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The Last One To See Her
He says he is innocent. So why did he lie?
Mathew Hillock was the last person to see eleven-year-old Jodie Willis alive. When her dead body turns up four days later in his garden shed, the police think he’s guilty of her murder. So do most people in the town. But there’s no DNA evidence to link him to the crime.
Battling the weight of public opinion and mental illness due to a childhood head trauma, he sinks into a deep depression.
Can Mathew do what the police failed to do and find evidence linking the real killer to the crime?
The Last One to See Her is a terrifying story of what happens when you’re accused of a crime and no one believes you are innocent
Mathew Hillock was the last person to see eleven-year-old Jodie Willis alive. When her dead body turns up four days later in his garden shed, the police think he’s guilty of her murder. So do most people in the town. But there’s no DNA evidence to link him to the crime.
Battling the weight of public opinion and mental illness due to a childhood head trauma, he sinks into a deep depression.
Can Mathew do what the police failed to do and find evidence linking the real killer to the crime?
The Last One to See Her is a terrifying story of what happens when you’re accused of a crime and no one believes you are innocent
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2020
30 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Mark Tilbury
27 books279 followersMark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.
He's always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark's writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He's published 12 thrillers, and his 13th novel, A Womb With A View, will be published Jan 19th 2023.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.
Did you know that you can follow authors on Amazon? If you hit the 'follow' button on my author page, you'll be kept updated of any price reductions and new publications.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Tilbury...
Thank you!
He's always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark's writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He's published 12 thrillers, and his 13th novel, A Womb With A View, will be published Jan 19th 2023.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.
Did you know that you can follow authors on Amazon? If you hit the 'follow' button on my author page, you'll be kept updated of any price reductions and new publications.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Tilbury...
Thank you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 1, 2020
4.75 for sure without any doubt this book is spine chilling, suspenseful, tummy churning good!
The way the author has laid the chapters out (for me) it kept me awake and aware. Almost each chapter ending had a (what I would call a “dot dot dot”) what do I mean?
Well, you know if you read a sentence that said “could it? Or can’t it.” .......
Would you be eager to want more? I was!
The characters chosen in this story was so well done.
Matthew in his 20’s who experienced trauma when younger leaving him with some diversity to his brain.
A brother who he looks up to.
A mother who looks after him well.
His brother doesn’t live with them, he moved out a while ago but keeps in touch all the time.
A young girl goes missing. Matthew is sat in a place where he had seen her pass by. She had gone to fetch milk for her mother. Matthew is not left alone though and that’s where this nasty character comes to the fore.
The plot thickens. The events and findings will definitely keep you on your toes. I didn’t guess the ending until just a few pages before. Now that’s brilliant seeing my main genre are thrillers.
I love this authors writing. It’s wickedly done with such eerie characters playing the main scenes.
You really should pick this book up.
The way the author has laid the chapters out (for me) it kept me awake and aware. Almost each chapter ending had a (what I would call a “dot dot dot”) what do I mean?
Well, you know if you read a sentence that said “could it? Or can’t it.” .......
Would you be eager to want more? I was!
The characters chosen in this story was so well done.
Matthew in his 20’s who experienced trauma when younger leaving him with some diversity to his brain.
A brother who he looks up to.
A mother who looks after him well.
His brother doesn’t live with them, he moved out a while ago but keeps in touch all the time.
A young girl goes missing. Matthew is sat in a place where he had seen her pass by. She had gone to fetch milk for her mother. Matthew is not left alone though and that’s where this nasty character comes to the fore.
The plot thickens. The events and findings will definitely keep you on your toes. I didn’t guess the ending until just a few pages before. Now that’s brilliant seeing my main genre are thrillers.
I love this authors writing. It’s wickedly done with such eerie characters playing the main scenes.
You really should pick this book up.
June 15, 2020
This is the first book I read by Mark Tilbury, and I certainly liked his writing. This is a very good crime – suspense novel which sticks to the core of the story and keeps you engaged.
A 11-year-old girl – Jodie Willis is sent by her mother Alison to get some milk from a local shop and does not return. After trying all her friends, Alison and her partner Terry are worried and contact law enforcement. There are two people who saw her last. Matthews saw her at the shop and makes a strange comment. The other person who last saw Jodie is Jim Bentley (who is a local bully who often harasses Matthews) while he is seated with Matthews on a bench near the shop. Matthews has suffered a head injury a few years back during an assault at their home, which also led to the death of his father & sister. Matthews frequently goes into a trance, loses track of time, has visions of an orb & bats, and talks to his pet tortoise. He has the unflinching support of his mother & brother Gareth, however.
The story & writing are very good, and the suspense hold till nearly the end. The book does lose some steam a little after the halfway mark and the last sequence itself was largely unnecessary. Overall, the book does not have too many characters, and stays very focused on the story. I simply loved Matthews character.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
A 11-year-old girl – Jodie Willis is sent by her mother Alison to get some milk from a local shop and does not return. After trying all her friends, Alison and her partner Terry are worried and contact law enforcement. There are two people who saw her last. Matthews saw her at the shop and makes a strange comment. The other person who last saw Jodie is Jim Bentley (who is a local bully who often harasses Matthews) while he is seated with Matthews on a bench near the shop. Matthews has suffered a head injury a few years back during an assault at their home, which also led to the death of his father & sister. Matthews frequently goes into a trance, loses track of time, has visions of an orb & bats, and talks to his pet tortoise. He has the unflinching support of his mother & brother Gareth, however.
The story & writing are very good, and the suspense hold till nearly the end. The book does lose some steam a little after the halfway mark and the last sequence itself was largely unnecessary. Overall, the book does not have too many characters, and stays very focused on the story. I simply loved Matthews character.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
June 11, 2020
The Prologue Will Catch Your Mind..The Story Will Tear Your Heart..
The very opening of this book grabs you as you see a family attacked..You keep that in mind as you travel through life with a young man, hurt then that causes a little slowness now. He is kind, but often sees and feels things others don't. He sees a young girl when at the store, who later disappears, leaving police questioning him. There are dark moments when the boy's mind is pushed and he retreats to his 'cave'. He did NOT hurt that girl....did he?! Even the boy does not really know...
Things happen quickly, the body is found, lies are told, and the boy,Mattie, ends up in jail!!! At least he has his brother to watch out for him....Right?....
A thrilling tale through the mind and how different up-bringing does show in a person's life story. A story that keeps you on edge and guessing right until the very end. 5 STARS to this fascinating adventure !!!
The very opening of this book grabs you as you see a family attacked..You keep that in mind as you travel through life with a young man, hurt then that causes a little slowness now. He is kind, but often sees and feels things others don't. He sees a young girl when at the store, who later disappears, leaving police questioning him. There are dark moments when the boy's mind is pushed and he retreats to his 'cave'. He did NOT hurt that girl....did he?! Even the boy does not really know...
Things happen quickly, the body is found, lies are told, and the boy,Mattie, ends up in jail!!! At least he has his brother to watch out for him....Right?....
A thrilling tale through the mind and how different up-bringing does show in a person's life story. A story that keeps you on edge and guessing right until the very end. 5 STARS to this fascinating adventure !!!
April 14, 2020
Jodie Willis is a young girl sent to the store to buy a container of milk. Two men happened to be sitting on a bench as she passed them with milk in hand.
One was Mathew Hillock ... a 20-year-old man who had a brain trauma when he was a child and according to the small community where he lives .. he's a little slow.
The other man is known as a bully, a drunk, and who most often than not, makes inappropriate remarks to any female of any age.
When Jody's body was found in a shed on his Mathew's mother's property, the police immediately list him as their primary suspect. So do most residents of the town. But as there is no DNA to link him to the girl, they cannot charge him.
Mathew falls into a pit of depression and starts withdrawing from reality and his family. The voice in his head tells him to needs to 'put things right'. What he hears is someone or something telling him he needs to find the person responsible for Jodie's death.
The Last One to See Her is a terrifying story of what happens when you’re accused of a crime and no one believes you are innocent.
Mathew's view of the world is different from what most people would consider as normal. He gets lost in his head when things become too much ... and he has no memory of the real world. His friend, his only friend, is his turtle .. who also speaks to him.
Mathew, his single mom an dhis older brother are all characters skillfully drawn by this author. This is an exceptionally well written novel with a few twists and turns that lead to an explosive unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this most interesting crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Book will be available 6/4/20.
June 28, 2020
Plot/Narrative
Well, this plot was just outstandingly terrifying, tension-filled and extremely dark.
The plot is about the eleven-year-old girl, Jodie Willis that goes missing while nipping to the shop to get some milk for her mother, Alison Willis. The last person to see her is Mathew who has mental illness/disability from a trauma he suffered years and years earlier, The shop keeper and a local drug dealer.
Characters
Yet again I don't know how mark does is but he has created such brilliant deep characters that are beyond realistic, terrifyingly so.
Mathew is an exceptional character with so much profoundness. Mark really makes his characters come alive of his pages and lets you get so deep inside their heads that in this case is actually unnerving. You really get a sense of Mathews Mental illness the effects it has on him, his family. And also how people look upon people with mental illness. You can't help but feel protective of Mathew throughout but there is always that little niggle of doubt throughout.
The other characters in this book also slotted in perfectly and the author did a fantastic job of casting doubt on everybody although for me there is one who I wished and thought it was.
Writing Style/Pacing
This book was basically a bloody dark but a complete masterpiece from the shocking prologue to the equally as tremendous ending. It takes you on a nail-biting, gritty, emotional rollercoaster ride that has you nailed to the edge of your seat.
Tilbury always delivers such dark poignant twisted plots with realistic deep dark emotional characters. His writing gets better with each book he publishes.
Themes/Settings
The themes in this book are vast from a missing child, murder, mental illness/disability and how the world/people perceive people that are different or have mental illness/disabilities and so much more.
Mark Tilbury always brings so many important dark themes to his books and how they affect not only that person but the people around them. And he does so in a brilliant realistic way that it always surprises me how it accomplishes them.
Cover
An amazing stunning cover.
Overall Thoughts
The Last One To See Her is outstandingly terrifying, tension-filled and extremely dark. Tilbury always delivers such dark poignant twisted plots with realistic deep dark emotional characters. His writing gets better with each book he publishes. This book was basically a dark but a complete masterpiece from the shocking prologue to the equally as tremendous ending. A nail-biting, gritty, emotional rollercoaster ride that has you nailed to the edge of your seat.
More Reviews at www.readingthroughthepain.blog
Well, this plot was just outstandingly terrifying, tension-filled and extremely dark.
The plot is about the eleven-year-old girl, Jodie Willis that goes missing while nipping to the shop to get some milk for her mother, Alison Willis. The last person to see her is Mathew who has mental illness/disability from a trauma he suffered years and years earlier, The shop keeper and a local drug dealer.
Characters
Yet again I don't know how mark does is but he has created such brilliant deep characters that are beyond realistic, terrifyingly so.
Mathew is an exceptional character with so much profoundness. Mark really makes his characters come alive of his pages and lets you get so deep inside their heads that in this case is actually unnerving. You really get a sense of Mathews Mental illness the effects it has on him, his family. And also how people look upon people with mental illness. You can't help but feel protective of Mathew throughout but there is always that little niggle of doubt throughout.
The other characters in this book also slotted in perfectly and the author did a fantastic job of casting doubt on everybody although for me there is one who I wished and thought it was.
Writing Style/Pacing
This book was basically a bloody dark but a complete masterpiece from the shocking prologue to the equally as tremendous ending. It takes you on a nail-biting, gritty, emotional rollercoaster ride that has you nailed to the edge of your seat.
Tilbury always delivers such dark poignant twisted plots with realistic deep dark emotional characters. His writing gets better with each book he publishes.
Themes/Settings
The themes in this book are vast from a missing child, murder, mental illness/disability and how the world/people perceive people that are different or have mental illness/disabilities and so much more.
Mark Tilbury always brings so many important dark themes to his books and how they affect not only that person but the people around them. And he does so in a brilliant realistic way that it always surprises me how it accomplishes them.
Cover
An amazing stunning cover.
Overall Thoughts
The Last One To See Her is outstandingly terrifying, tension-filled and extremely dark. Tilbury always delivers such dark poignant twisted plots with realistic deep dark emotional characters. His writing gets better with each book he publishes. This book was basically a dark but a complete masterpiece from the shocking prologue to the equally as tremendous ending. A nail-biting, gritty, emotional rollercoaster ride that has you nailed to the edge of your seat.
More Reviews at www.readingthroughthepain.blog
June 1, 2020
This story has one powerful beginning and ending and what is between them both had me totally absorbed also.
Mattie is a character that I wanted to protect and brought out the mothering instinct in me. Mentally he is still a bit like a child due to an incident which left him that way. Whilst I have every faith in him being not guilty of the disappearance of a little girl. There is that niggle of doubt through out. In fact there are a couple of likely characters that could be the culprit but the author makes us sit tight and wait until he is ready to show all of his cards.
The mounting tension is almost unbearable at times. I was racing through the pages as I had to know who the killer was. I wasn’t quite sure what to think as the author seriously messes with your head leaving you not knowing what to believe.
The Last One To See Her was an absolutely gripping read that fully captivated me. I love the super natural feel that this author’s stories have to them. They just give that added edge to the story but yet has them feeling believable at the same time. What else can I say other than I loved it. Brilliant read.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Mattie is a character that I wanted to protect and brought out the mothering instinct in me. Mentally he is still a bit like a child due to an incident which left him that way. Whilst I have every faith in him being not guilty of the disappearance of a little girl. There is that niggle of doubt through out. In fact there are a couple of likely characters that could be the culprit but the author makes us sit tight and wait until he is ready to show all of his cards.
The mounting tension is almost unbearable at times. I was racing through the pages as I had to know who the killer was. I wasn’t quite sure what to think as the author seriously messes with your head leaving you not knowing what to believe.
The Last One To See Her was an absolutely gripping read that fully captivated me. I love the super natural feel that this author’s stories have to them. They just give that added edge to the story but yet has them feeling believable at the same time. What else can I say other than I loved it. Brilliant read.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
June 1, 2020
The Last One to See Her is twisted Tilbury’s newest thriller and quite possibly his best to date which really is saying something; if you love your crime dark and gritty but with heart and loaded with emotion, as well as some truly scrumptious and deliciously devilish surprises you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you don't pick this up. It begins in one of the most compelling manners with a prologue that grips you instantaneously and does a fantastic job of nabbing your attention and effectively taking over your thoughts before you know it. Almost an entire family are brutally slain before the book has even started. The plot revolves around the case of missing Jodie Willis, an innocent eleven-year-old girl who vanished after taking a walk to the local shop for a pint of milk. Mathew Hillock becomes embroiled in the case due to his mental disability caused by a head injury years earlier. The fact that he knows he's innocent ends up driving him to despair. But why did he tell some untruths if he had nothing to do with her disappearance?
This is not only a compulsive and addictive read from start to finish but it's an important one, which addresses prejudice, disability, police botches, mental health and the fear that others feel when they perceive someone to be a little different whether personality-wise or because of underlying issues. The cast of characters is engaging, the plot captivating and full of interesting developments, and enough intrigue to make this a one-sitting thrill-seekers delight. I loved the fact that each chapter had a turn of events or twist that embodied the ”just one more before sleep” mindset completely and found it one of the most difficult thrillers to move on from once I’d completed it. All in all, this is an intelligently woven, thoroughly enjoyable novel and very much a must-read in my mind. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Mark Tilbury for furnishing me with a review copy and taking me on yet another wild ride.
This is not only a compulsive and addictive read from start to finish but it's an important one, which addresses prejudice, disability, police botches, mental health and the fear that others feel when they perceive someone to be a little different whether personality-wise or because of underlying issues. The cast of characters is engaging, the plot captivating and full of interesting developments, and enough intrigue to make this a one-sitting thrill-seekers delight. I loved the fact that each chapter had a turn of events or twist that embodied the ”just one more before sleep” mindset completely and found it one of the most difficult thrillers to move on from once I’d completed it. All in all, this is an intelligently woven, thoroughly enjoyable novel and very much a must-read in my mind. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Mark Tilbury for furnishing me with a review copy and taking me on yet another wild ride.
June 23, 2020
This is the first book by Mark Tilbury that I've read. I really liked the character of Mathew Hillock and the story kept me turning pages. Although it was fast-paced with some unexpected occurrences, it just seemed to flit from one scene to another and there just wasn't enough meat to the story in my opinion. Obviously I'm in the minority here and I feel bad giving it such a low rating but I'd still recommend it to a friend.
June 8, 2020
Twisted Tilbury is back with a vengeance! From the utterly brutal prologue to the shocking conclusion, and everything in between, The Last One To See Her is an incredibly gripping and addictive page-turner.
When eleven year old Jodie Willis goes missing, suspicious minds quickly turn to Mathew Hillock. After all, he was the last person to see Jodie alive and he lied about his whereabouts. Mathew’s situation becomes even more precarious when Jodie’s body is found. Mathew isn’t like other people. He often loses hours from his day, not quite knowing where he’s been or what he’s done. If he can’t even trust himself, how will he convince anyone else he didn’t do anything wrong?
Mathew is one of those characters you root for from the start. Sure, he seems extremely set in his ways and displays quite a lot of quirks but he comes across as kind and gentle in that whole wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly kind of way. Mathew lives with his mother. His best friend is a tortoise, Tortilla. His brother, Gareth, is his rock. And that’s how small Mathew’s world is. But it soon becomes apparent there is a reason for the way Mathew behaves. Unfortunately for him, being different from the norm also makes him a natural suspect.
On the other side of the spectrum, we are introduced to Jim Bentley. A local drugs dealer, Jim is one of those characters that Mark Tilbury does so incredibly well. Loathsome, vile, despicable and getting under your skin in the worst way possible. He’s the kind of character you hope will get his comeuppance at some point, no matter if he’s actually guilty of something or not. Jim, too, often doesn’t remember where he’s been or what he’s done, courtesy of alcohol and drugs. And he was also in the area when Jodie was last seen. So, is he responsible for her kidnapping and murder?
Dark and twisty doesn’t even begin to cover it, although maybe not as dark as some of Tilbury’s previous books. Add to that the delightful somewhat supernatural vibe I expect from this author’s stories and I was one happy bunny. Which is saying a lot because I’m normally not a fan of the supernatural whatsits in my stories but Mark Tilbury does it so well, it almost feels real. And as if all that isn’t enough, there is a range of emotions to go through as well. From Mathew’s issues, to prejudice, to abuse, to Jodie’s mum who has to try and find a way to navigate a whole other world without her daughter … I mean, I went from sheer sadness to anger and all the way back again.
So, who killed Jodie? I didn’t have a clue and I kept switching back and forth, all the while hoping Mathew wasn’t responsible because he’s just that kind of character. Twisty? Yes! Twisted? Most definitely! The Last One To See Her is yet another compelling and engrossing book by Mark Tilbury and I have no doubt fans of his work will be thrilled with this one. I know I was!
When eleven year old Jodie Willis goes missing, suspicious minds quickly turn to Mathew Hillock. After all, he was the last person to see Jodie alive and he lied about his whereabouts. Mathew’s situation becomes even more precarious when Jodie’s body is found. Mathew isn’t like other people. He often loses hours from his day, not quite knowing where he’s been or what he’s done. If he can’t even trust himself, how will he convince anyone else he didn’t do anything wrong?
Mathew is one of those characters you root for from the start. Sure, he seems extremely set in his ways and displays quite a lot of quirks but he comes across as kind and gentle in that whole wouldn’t-hurt-a-fly kind of way. Mathew lives with his mother. His best friend is a tortoise, Tortilla. His brother, Gareth, is his rock. And that’s how small Mathew’s world is. But it soon becomes apparent there is a reason for the way Mathew behaves. Unfortunately for him, being different from the norm also makes him a natural suspect.
On the other side of the spectrum, we are introduced to Jim Bentley. A local drugs dealer, Jim is one of those characters that Mark Tilbury does so incredibly well. Loathsome, vile, despicable and getting under your skin in the worst way possible. He’s the kind of character you hope will get his comeuppance at some point, no matter if he’s actually guilty of something or not. Jim, too, often doesn’t remember where he’s been or what he’s done, courtesy of alcohol and drugs. And he was also in the area when Jodie was last seen. So, is he responsible for her kidnapping and murder?
Dark and twisty doesn’t even begin to cover it, although maybe not as dark as some of Tilbury’s previous books. Add to that the delightful somewhat supernatural vibe I expect from this author’s stories and I was one happy bunny. Which is saying a lot because I’m normally not a fan of the supernatural whatsits in my stories but Mark Tilbury does it so well, it almost feels real. And as if all that isn’t enough, there is a range of emotions to go through as well. From Mathew’s issues, to prejudice, to abuse, to Jodie’s mum who has to try and find a way to navigate a whole other world without her daughter … I mean, I went from sheer sadness to anger and all the way back again.
So, who killed Jodie? I didn’t have a clue and I kept switching back and forth, all the while hoping Mathew wasn’t responsible because he’s just that kind of character. Twisty? Yes! Twisted? Most definitely! The Last One To See Her is yet another compelling and engrossing book by Mark Tilbury and I have no doubt fans of his work will be thrilled with this one. I know I was!
June 2, 2020
I’ve long been a fan of Mark Tilbury’s writing, he’s an author whose books I always look forward to. The Last One To See Her is the latest offering from Tilbury took me by surprise, in the best possible way might I add! The author is best known for writing books that veer towards the dark side, and this book is as dark as the night sky, but what I wasn’t expecting was the heart-rending, gut punching, all too human characters that make this book such a fascinating read .Mathew Hillock has learning difficulties caused by a head trauma as a child, here’s a character who I immediately warmed to, in fact it’s fair to say at times I had to swallow the lump in my throat! He’s a gentle giant, naïve, vulnerable, and doesn’t see the world the same as others, when he’s stressed he has blank episodes, and retreats to his ‘cave’ a safe haven that’s free of danger and evil.
Unfortunately for Matthew he was the last person to see eleven-year-old Jodie Willis alive, and it’s not long before he becomes the main suspect in the case. Matthew begins to question if he could be in some way connected to the crime, as when he has his ‘blackouts’ has has no recollection of them. Tilbury gives a distressing insight into Matthew’s world and how frightening life is for him once he becomes the main suspect in the case. Matthews naivety, his relationships with his older brother Gareth, Tortilla (his pet Tortoise) and his grandfather, plus his gentle humour, add a well needed dose of warmth to this dark tale. To balance the ‘good’ characters, the author has created some real sick ones, they will make your skin crawl, and your blood boil, it’s a case of good versus evil!
At first I thought The Last One To See Her would be a straight forward Psychological thriller, but we’re talking Mark Tilbury here! and it isn’t long before the plot moves to the dark, gritty side, one that fans of this author have come to love and enjoy. This has to be my favourite book by the author, it has all the elements I enjoy in a thriller, an excellent plot, strongly depicted characters, tension, scenes that shock, gut punching ones where you really feel for the main character, and a hell of a twist. An excellent read that I would highly recommend to crime thriller lovers.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Unfortunately for Matthew he was the last person to see eleven-year-old Jodie Willis alive, and it’s not long before he becomes the main suspect in the case. Matthew begins to question if he could be in some way connected to the crime, as when he has his ‘blackouts’ has has no recollection of them. Tilbury gives a distressing insight into Matthew’s world and how frightening life is for him once he becomes the main suspect in the case. Matthews naivety, his relationships with his older brother Gareth, Tortilla (his pet Tortoise) and his grandfather, plus his gentle humour, add a well needed dose of warmth to this dark tale. To balance the ‘good’ characters, the author has created some real sick ones, they will make your skin crawl, and your blood boil, it’s a case of good versus evil!
At first I thought The Last One To See Her would be a straight forward Psychological thriller, but we’re talking Mark Tilbury here! and it isn’t long before the plot moves to the dark, gritty side, one that fans of this author have come to love and enjoy. This has to be my favourite book by the author, it has all the elements I enjoy in a thriller, an excellent plot, strongly depicted characters, tension, scenes that shock, gut punching ones where you really feel for the main character, and a hell of a twist. An excellent read that I would highly recommend to crime thriller lovers.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
June 16, 2020
I love Mark's other books so I was eager to read his latest release once work was out of the way. Mark is known throughout FB for being an author with a truly twisted mind and this one is no exception, a great read right up until the final page.
11 yr old Jodie goes missing while going to the local shops and is later found dead. There are a few people who are the last to see her, a man with a horrific past, a drug dealer and the shop owner. But who killed her? The clues are as twisted and as complicated for the police to sort through.
With the evidence mounting it's up to the police to sift through the evidence to find their culprit. It's a toughie. Mark has a knack of keeping the reader on the edge of our seats.
A emotional rollercoaster which will have you rooting for some characters while detesting others.
11 yr old Jodie goes missing while going to the local shops and is later found dead. There are a few people who are the last to see her, a man with a horrific past, a drug dealer and the shop owner. But who killed her? The clues are as twisted and as complicated for the police to sort through.
With the evidence mounting it's up to the police to sift through the evidence to find their culprit. It's a toughie. Mark has a knack of keeping the reader on the edge of our seats.
A emotional rollercoaster which will have you rooting for some characters while detesting others.
May 29, 2020
This book starts with one of the most stunning prologues I have read in quite a while, describing the slaying of nearly a complete family with the killer also meeting a sticky end. This was twelve years prior to the main story and quite how it fits into the plot will become apparent to the reader much later on. By the end of chapter one, we find ourselves back in Feelham, the notorious scene of the crime in an earlier book, "You Belong To Me" and looking like a pretty unlucky place to be living for Alison Willis and her daughter Jodie. A simple errand to buy milk from the local shop turns into a nightmare for Alison and partner Terry when eleven year old Jodie fails to return and simply vanishes. Four days later her dead body is found. The subject matter of the kidnap and murder of a young girl will not be to everyone's taste but the real focus of the story centres on the two main suspects, poles apart, and their experiences during the police investigation. These two men could not be any more different to each other if they tried, and yet they both make very convincing and viable suspects, both to the detectives and to the general public. Not least because they are the last two people known to have seen Jodie alive. Mathew Hillock is an unfortunate soul. He suffered brain damage as a child and now is viewed by most people as a bit of an odd-ball, not "quite right". His loving family know he is harmless but discovering Jodie's body has put him firmly in the spotlight. His descents into dark fugue states and his inability to recall the truth casts a lot of suspicion on him. He will need to battle to overcome his depression and dark thoughts, and block out the voices in his head to prove his innocence. The other suspect also loses periods of memory, but for an entirely different reason. It was easy enough to work out who the killer was, but that made no difference to my huge enjoyment of this book. This is another fine example of what our favourite self confessed "sicko" author does best. He plays with the reader's thoughts and minds until they are twisted and sucked into the heads of his characters. And these are heads you really don't want to be inside, believe me. 5*
June 4, 2020
4.5/5
Do you like your thrillers dark, fast paced, disturbing and wholly unsettling? Then allow me to introduce you to the work of Mark Tilbury. He’s one of the few thriller authors who I can count on to always deliver a story that is at once compelling and twisty and his latest is no exception. There’s a reason he’s referred to as Twisted Tilbury after all…
As much as I love a dark plot if you add in some great characterization then I’m really satisfied and this book had some fantastic characters. Some I just adored and some I hated beyond comprehension, but they were all very well drawn. The plot was also great, you have several suspects and no clue who the bad guy really is right until the end and I never saw anything coming ahead of time either. The tension is palpable the whole time but as you get closer to the end things reach a whole new level of tense and the end was powerful and satisfying.
Do you like your thrillers dark, fast paced, disturbing and wholly unsettling? Then allow me to introduce you to the work of Mark Tilbury. He’s one of the few thriller authors who I can count on to always deliver a story that is at once compelling and twisty and his latest is no exception. There’s a reason he’s referred to as Twisted Tilbury after all…
As much as I love a dark plot if you add in some great characterization then I’m really satisfied and this book had some fantastic characters. Some I just adored and some I hated beyond comprehension, but they were all very well drawn. The plot was also great, you have several suspects and no clue who the bad guy really is right until the end and I never saw anything coming ahead of time either. The tension is palpable the whole time but as you get closer to the end things reach a whole new level of tense and the end was powerful and satisfying.
April 16, 2020
This is a dark but at the same time a heart-rending story of a twenty-year old man Matthew Hillock who suffered a brain injury after a brutal attack 12 years earlier when his sister and father were killed.
Matthew is an innocent in every sense of the word, which whilst loved and protected by his surviving mother and brother, he is extremely vulnerable to cruelty whilst outside the safety and security of his home. So much so that he doesn't go out without secretly wearing a stab-vest under his coat.
Whilst in the local shop, he made a comment that someone is going to die today. Although an odd thing to say, he was making a reference to having seen a bird in his house and the superstition that is associated with this occurrence has been taken literally in Matthew's head.
A young ten-year old Jodie Willis, was in the shop at the same time, buying a carton of milk for her mother. Later that day she is reported missing after failing to return home from her errand. The other person in the shop was Jim Bentley, recently released from prison, a bully who never misses an opportunity to torment poor Matthew.
Matthew becomes a prime suspect for the disappearance of Jodie, and this book describes in detail, how this harsh reality is processed by someone with an acquired brain injury.
The description of the surreal world that Matthew's head enters, when he is overwhelmed with stress and enters the safety of one of his fugues, (a minor epileptic seizure when the victim appears conscious and physically functioning but is mentally disconnected from external stimuli), gives an insight to how frightening Matthew's world can be for him.
As always, author Mark Tilbury has triumphed again, with this incredible dark story that devotees of the psychological thriller genre should not want to miss.
Matthew is an innocent in every sense of the word, which whilst loved and protected by his surviving mother and brother, he is extremely vulnerable to cruelty whilst outside the safety and security of his home. So much so that he doesn't go out without secretly wearing a stab-vest under his coat.
Whilst in the local shop, he made a comment that someone is going to die today. Although an odd thing to say, he was making a reference to having seen a bird in his house and the superstition that is associated with this occurrence has been taken literally in Matthew's head.
A young ten-year old Jodie Willis, was in the shop at the same time, buying a carton of milk for her mother. Later that day she is reported missing after failing to return home from her errand. The other person in the shop was Jim Bentley, recently released from prison, a bully who never misses an opportunity to torment poor Matthew.
Matthew becomes a prime suspect for the disappearance of Jodie, and this book describes in detail, how this harsh reality is processed by someone with an acquired brain injury.
The description of the surreal world that Matthew's head enters, when he is overwhelmed with stress and enters the safety of one of his fugues, (a minor epileptic seizure when the victim appears conscious and physically functioning but is mentally disconnected from external stimuli), gives an insight to how frightening Matthew's world can be for him.
As always, author Mark Tilbury has triumphed again, with this incredible dark story that devotees of the psychological thriller genre should not want to miss.
September 11, 2020
Rounded up to 4.5 stars.
“The Last One to See Her” by Mark Tilbury is a grab-you-by-the-heart-strings psychological thriller that you will try to put down, but only because you don’t want anything bad to happen to the lovable Mathew. All the foreshadowing and gentle twists let you know something might. That it probably will… if you keep reading. But that’s exactly why you won’t put the book down. It’s why you’ll race through the short chapters to find out what happens and deliver Mathew to safety. Or so you hope.
Author Mark Tilbury does a brilliant job at portraying Mathew Hillock. From the very beginning, you know that Mathew has some type of mental disability — before it’s ever confirmed in the story. Even though it’s not written in first person, Tilbury takes you inside Mathew’s innocent, yet sometimes troubled mind. He also takes you inside his pure heart, allowing you to see this character didn’t kill Jodie Willis. He couldn’t. He doesn’t have it in him. Mathew may doubt his innocence. He may give you reason at times. But Tilbury exposes him so well that any doubts won’t linger for long.
Besides, Tilbury gives you a few other suspects who seem far more likely to be the guilty ones. These characters are the antithesis of Mathew. They possess the evilness to kill. They will kill before the book ends. But did they kill Jodie Willis? It won’t take you until the end of the story to figure out. Intentional or not, Tilbury makes it obvious. As with most psychological thrillers, the highlight of the book isn’t solving the mystery. It’s the twist at the end. “The Last One to See Her” will leave you pleasantly satisfied… and stunned.
Thank you to the author Mark Tilbury for a complimentary copy of “The Last One to See Her” in exchange for an honest review.
“The Last One to See Her” by Mark Tilbury is a grab-you-by-the-heart-strings psychological thriller that you will try to put down, but only because you don’t want anything bad to happen to the lovable Mathew. All the foreshadowing and gentle twists let you know something might. That it probably will… if you keep reading. But that’s exactly why you won’t put the book down. It’s why you’ll race through the short chapters to find out what happens and deliver Mathew to safety. Or so you hope.
Author Mark Tilbury does a brilliant job at portraying Mathew Hillock. From the very beginning, you know that Mathew has some type of mental disability — before it’s ever confirmed in the story. Even though it’s not written in first person, Tilbury takes you inside Mathew’s innocent, yet sometimes troubled mind. He also takes you inside his pure heart, allowing you to see this character didn’t kill Jodie Willis. He couldn’t. He doesn’t have it in him. Mathew may doubt his innocence. He may give you reason at times. But Tilbury exposes him so well that any doubts won’t linger for long.
Besides, Tilbury gives you a few other suspects who seem far more likely to be the guilty ones. These characters are the antithesis of Mathew. They possess the evilness to kill. They will kill before the book ends. But did they kill Jodie Willis? It won’t take you until the end of the story to figure out. Intentional or not, Tilbury makes it obvious. As with most psychological thrillers, the highlight of the book isn’t solving the mystery. It’s the twist at the end. “The Last One to See Her” will leave you pleasantly satisfied… and stunned.
Thank you to the author Mark Tilbury for a complimentary copy of “The Last One to See Her” in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2020
The Last One To See Her
I've had a few books by Mark Tilbury downloaded into my 'to be read' pile for a while and I honestly have no idea Why it's taken me this long to finally read one.
The Last One To See Her, being my first.
I loved this book from the very beginning, the character Mathew tugged at my heart strings immediately.
The story was incredibly well written with a clever ending that I only saw coming around the time I was supposed to see it coming!
This book is a well deserved five stars and comes highly recommended by me.
I've had a few books by Mark Tilbury downloaded into my 'to be read' pile for a while and I honestly have no idea Why it's taken me this long to finally read one.
The Last One To See Her, being my first.
I loved this book from the very beginning, the character Mathew tugged at my heart strings immediately.
The story was incredibly well written with a clever ending that I only saw coming around the time I was supposed to see it coming!
This book is a well deserved five stars and comes highly recommended by me.
June 5, 2020
I have finally had the chance to sit down and read a book by Mark and boy did I fly through this book. I can now see why he has the hashtag #TwistedTilbury!!
From the opening pages, you can sense the fear and foreboding of this story, but thankfully, for the more squeamish of people, the violence is off-screen and left all to our vivid imaginations and sometimes it is not a place we want to go.
Matthew our MC, has not had the easiest of lives so far and we watch him struggle with living what is deemed a “normal” life, due to events in the past it has left Matthew with some mental health issues and you see him retreating to his cave in his head where he suffers something called fugues, and this can cause him to blackout. This does not help when the police come a-knocking.
Jim Bentley the other guy in the story, well he is a Class A douche, spends more time digging a hole to get himself out of trouble and really it makes things worse for him and the people around him.
I really did not know what to expect when reading this and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out who this terrifying Dr Dark reading inserts from his diary. It takes a lot to creep me out but his diary entries are damn chilling. The lack of human empathy and emotion is truly scary, the tone of his entries where in his mind he is just having a conversation with someone about something is as trivial as the weather is truly horrifying!
When you have all this going on and a girl goes missing, well you know that things are not going to be all sweetness and light here and it is heartbreaking. Some many points of view in this book and each one, well you wonder when someone might catch a break. What I did love about this book, for a change of pace for me, there is no police detecting point of view, bar one small scene. We are told the story by the “suspects” by the victims’ parent, by everyone but the police and it was nice to see how the lives were being impacted rather than the investigation side of things. It made a change to see how everyone has to try and pick up the pieces, live their lives with everything going on around them. This is not something we normally see, so thank you.
This was my first book by Mark and what an introduction, it is safe to say this won’t be my last one! (see below). His writing sucked me in and I became completely absorbed and forgot what was going on in the world as I wanted to know what happened. Boy was that a sucker-punch! This book was so dark and I loved it, no light relief, no safe haven, just pure unadulterated darkness and it has left me wanting more of his books.
From the opening pages, you can sense the fear and foreboding of this story, but thankfully, for the more squeamish of people, the violence is off-screen and left all to our vivid imaginations and sometimes it is not a place we want to go.
Matthew our MC, has not had the easiest of lives so far and we watch him struggle with living what is deemed a “normal” life, due to events in the past it has left Matthew with some mental health issues and you see him retreating to his cave in his head where he suffers something called fugues, and this can cause him to blackout. This does not help when the police come a-knocking.
Jim Bentley the other guy in the story, well he is a Class A douche, spends more time digging a hole to get himself out of trouble and really it makes things worse for him and the people around him.
I really did not know what to expect when reading this and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out who this terrifying Dr Dark reading inserts from his diary. It takes a lot to creep me out but his diary entries are damn chilling. The lack of human empathy and emotion is truly scary, the tone of his entries where in his mind he is just having a conversation with someone about something is as trivial as the weather is truly horrifying!
When you have all this going on and a girl goes missing, well you know that things are not going to be all sweetness and light here and it is heartbreaking. Some many points of view in this book and each one, well you wonder when someone might catch a break. What I did love about this book, for a change of pace for me, there is no police detecting point of view, bar one small scene. We are told the story by the “suspects” by the victims’ parent, by everyone but the police and it was nice to see how the lives were being impacted rather than the investigation side of things. It made a change to see how everyone has to try and pick up the pieces, live their lives with everything going on around them. This is not something we normally see, so thank you.
This was my first book by Mark and what an introduction, it is safe to say this won’t be my last one! (see below). His writing sucked me in and I became completely absorbed and forgot what was going on in the world as I wanted to know what happened. Boy was that a sucker-punch! This book was so dark and I loved it, no light relief, no safe haven, just pure unadulterated darkness and it has left me wanting more of his books.
June 1, 2020
WOW! Brilliant, as always!
Mark Tilbury’s writing never fails to grab my attention and The Last One To See Her kept me gripped from the very first page to the very last word.
When 11-year-old Jodie Willis goes missing whilst fetching milk from the local shop, just a few hundred yards away, her mother is understandably beside herself with worry. I can’t even begin to imagine, and my heart went out to her. Every parent’s worst nightmare!
Mathew Hillock, and just one other local man, were the last to see her alive. Mathew is convinced this man, not known for being the most pleasant of characters (he really did turn my stomach), had something to do with her disappearance but has no proof. However, Jodie’s body is found in Mathew’s garden shed, days later, and almost everyone is convinced of his guilt. He’s an odd character in most people’s eyes, due to his limitations caused by a childhood trauma, so he must be guilty. Mathew even starts to doubt himself even though there isn’t a scrap of evidence linking him to this murder. I honestly didn’t know what to believe and was as desperate as those involved to find out the truth! I really felt for Mathew as he seemed like an easy target. His back story is heart-breaking. I kept an open mind though as you never know which direction these stories will take. There are always plenty of surprises with Mark Tilbury and this book was no exception.
When I realised the truth, it made me feel quite sick.
#TwistedTilbury
A disturbing (as expected) but captivating read with a fascinating cast of characters, some you will love and others you really would not want to come across in real life. Fast paced and very clever with twists and turns galore. This author never ceases to amaze me.
I honestly don’t know what else to say other than buy it and read it for yourself. If you love a good psychological crime thriller you will love this as it’s nothing short of excellent.
All the stars from me!
I will more than happily recommend to anyone and everyone.
Many thanks to Mark Tilbury for my review copy and for the opportunity to be a part of the blog tour.
http://chataboutbooks.blog/2020/06/01...
Mark Tilbury’s writing never fails to grab my attention and The Last One To See Her kept me gripped from the very first page to the very last word.
When 11-year-old Jodie Willis goes missing whilst fetching milk from the local shop, just a few hundred yards away, her mother is understandably beside herself with worry. I can’t even begin to imagine, and my heart went out to her. Every parent’s worst nightmare!
Mathew Hillock, and just one other local man, were the last to see her alive. Mathew is convinced this man, not known for being the most pleasant of characters (he really did turn my stomach), had something to do with her disappearance but has no proof. However, Jodie’s body is found in Mathew’s garden shed, days later, and almost everyone is convinced of his guilt. He’s an odd character in most people’s eyes, due to his limitations caused by a childhood trauma, so he must be guilty. Mathew even starts to doubt himself even though there isn’t a scrap of evidence linking him to this murder. I honestly didn’t know what to believe and was as desperate as those involved to find out the truth! I really felt for Mathew as he seemed like an easy target. His back story is heart-breaking. I kept an open mind though as you never know which direction these stories will take. There are always plenty of surprises with Mark Tilbury and this book was no exception.
When I realised the truth, it made me feel quite sick.
#TwistedTilbury
A disturbing (as expected) but captivating read with a fascinating cast of characters, some you will love and others you really would not want to come across in real life. Fast paced and very clever with twists and turns galore. This author never ceases to amaze me.
I honestly don’t know what else to say other than buy it and read it for yourself. If you love a good psychological crime thriller you will love this as it’s nothing short of excellent.
All the stars from me!
I will more than happily recommend to anyone and everyone.
Many thanks to Mark Tilbury for my review copy and for the opportunity to be a part of the blog tour.
http://chataboutbooks.blog/2020/06/01...
April 13, 2020
Last one to see her.
Another great outing from our favourite sicko author doing what he does best. I would say this is Stephen king esque.
The story opens with a horrible attack on a family by a drug dealer. A story that comes full circle a lot later on.
Mathew is a young man who has "mental problems" working for his mother's book shop. He gets abused by the local druggie/drunken big mouth, when he sees a young girl walk off, she gets followed by this man, so he follows him fearing for her safety. However when he gets home 2 hours have passed and he has no idea what happened.
The story is easy to read as it is mainly from the viewpoint of Mathew so the language is in his more simple wording.
The fugue states he experiences take Mark Tilbury back to what he does best, an element of the supernatural. It's so beautifully written that you could be sitting alongside Mathew experiencing what he is.
An unputdownable story of murder, love, mental health and hate so beautifully written and perfectly captured.
Another great outing from our favourite sicko author doing what he does best. I would say this is Stephen king esque.
The story opens with a horrible attack on a family by a drug dealer. A story that comes full circle a lot later on.
Mathew is a young man who has "mental problems" working for his mother's book shop. He gets abused by the local druggie/drunken big mouth, when he sees a young girl walk off, she gets followed by this man, so he follows him fearing for her safety. However when he gets home 2 hours have passed and he has no idea what happened.
The story is easy to read as it is mainly from the viewpoint of Mathew so the language is in his more simple wording.
The fugue states he experiences take Mark Tilbury back to what he does best, an element of the supernatural. It's so beautifully written that you could be sitting alongside Mathew experiencing what he is.
An unputdownable story of murder, love, mental health and hate so beautifully written and perfectly captured.
May 16, 2020
Another fab book by Mark Tilbury.
This one will take you on a ride, you will root for one person & blame the other, then start thinking & wondering & then you will start all over again!
Absolutely loved it, it’s a thriller with mystery & such a good deep story.
This one will take you on a ride, you will root for one person & blame the other, then start thinking & wondering & then you will start all over again!
Absolutely loved it, it’s a thriller with mystery & such a good deep story.
June 8, 2020
What an absolutely brilliant book another fab read by Mark Tilbury. Loved the characters and the way the story unfolds. A very fast paced read a must read.
October 26, 2020
Another unbelievably amazing read from Twisted Tilbury. My heart and mind were all over the place with the characters in this story. Mattie was under my wing the whole time and I went with him everywhere he went. The whole thing blew my mind. Again I am left with a major book hangover... only one thing for it, hair of the dog!
June 28, 2020
Another incredibly readable, gritty read from the author known as #TwistedTilbury. Mark's characters are oh-so real, with depth which draws you in to this tale. There is a nice 'red herring' part way through that sets you off wondering if a certain someone could be the culprit of Jodie Willis's death. But, no, the conclusion gallops in like an unknown entry and you're left reeling. Bravo sir!
May 22, 2020
Mathew Hillock was the last person to see Jodie Willis alive. When her dead body turns four days later in his garden shed, the police think he's guilty of her murder.
From beginning to end the story runs as smoothly as butter. I found myself so immersed in Mathew's world almost as if he was a younger brother. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going bam something else was thrown into the mix! . Touching, moving and sometimes heartbreaking but above all beautiful i can't recommend this book highly enough
From beginning to end the story runs as smoothly as butter. I found myself so immersed in Mathew's world almost as if he was a younger brother. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going bam something else was thrown into the mix! . Touching, moving and sometimes heartbreaking but above all beautiful i can't recommend this book highly enough
May 6, 2020
Mark Tilbury has done it again, another cracking read from my favourite sicko author, the characters were well written and I felt I got to know each of them, I especially loved Mathew Hillock the lead character who is a young man with learning disabilities, as a Mum of an adult autistic son I can be very wary of how authors deal with these characters but I think Mark did a brilliant job and got him just right! A very dark and harrowing story that had me guessing until almost the end, great escapism from our current situation, I bloody loved it and read it in 2 days, thanks Mark Tilbury please keep them coming! x
May 30, 2020
Mathew Hillock is a gentle soul..he lives with his mother Sonia and his pet Tortoise , Tortilla.Tortilla is his only friend in the world, apart from his brother Gareth who he hero worships.Mathew's view of the world is very different from ours, his brain closes off sometimes..he has fuges states, caused by a brain injury that happened in his past.When this happens he enters a cave where there are bats, truths voices..and so much darkness. Mathew works with his mum in her bookshop, his books are his only escape from the cruelties of the world. Jodie Willis is a little girl who has dreams of being a vet when she grows up.11 years old , cute as a button , bright sweet and loving..Jodie's dreams are about to be swept away in an instant..When she goes to the shop for her mum and disappears,her mother prays with every beat of her heart that her child will come home again..Jim Bentley is addicted to drugs, all he thinks about is his next fix..He has this nasty streak in him..that seems to grow darker and more vicious by the day..When Bentley and Mathew cross paths it will take Mathew to a place he will never forget..Mathew will leave the shelter of the cave..to meet a monster..A monster that will shatter his beliefs, squash his soul , making him see that monsters have many faces..Soul Piercing, Beautifully Dark , Poignant and Heartbreaking..Mark Tilbury's Darkest story ever..All the stars ..Outstanding. ❤
June 8, 2020
Mark Tilbury has this magical ability to create characters that within a few pages get under your skin. In this instance it's Matthew. You're soon compelled to read " just one more chapter" to discover what happens to Matthew and suffice to say you'll not be disappointed. An excellent read!
May 3, 2020
If you come to a Mark Tilbury book looking for cosy crime, you come to the wrong place. These books are tinged with darkness and whilst this is not the blackest of reads, it is still a story that will get under your skin. This is the story or poor Jodie Willis, an eleven year old girl who goes missing while running an errand for her mother, and of Mathew Hillock, the young man who was one of the last people to see her, and the one accused of being responsible for her disappearance. The story opens in dramatic fashion, and from there on in it is a blend of emotion, mystery and chills as we traverse the world of Mathew and those around him as they strive to find out what happened to poor Jodie.
I have read a number of Mark Tilbury's books and what they all have in common, aside from a story which grips you very quickly and keeps you glued to the page, is the fact they have have very strong and very diverse characters, In this book, the main protagonist is Mathew, a young man with mental health and developmental issues. It is clear from the outset that there is something different about Mathew, something that makes him a natural suspect and although we don't know what or why to being with, the more we read, the more we learn. Mark Tilbury has developed him in a very sympathetic and understanding way, whilst also highlighting the many prejudices that someone with Mathew's condition have to face.
One such character guilty of this prejudice is the police's other main suspect - Jim Bentley. He is as objectionable a character as you could ever hope not to meet and doesn't seem to have a single redeeming quality. He is one of those characters you love to hate, driven by drugs and depravity and his actions throughout the book will likely shock. I can honestly say there wasn't a single thing to like about him as a character and you could easliy picture him as being guilty.
Mathew has a very simple view on life, struggles to understand its complexities, and the fact that a large portion of the story is told from his pint of view, makes the way in which the readers experience the story very different too, and I liked the narrative techniques that the author chose to use in order for Mathew to puzzle things out in his head. It makes his voice and his part in the story quite distinct from the other characters such as Bentley and Jodie's mother, Alison, when they take over the narrative perspective. Mathews is a very childlike perspective, compared to Bentley's anger and Alison's fear, but all three work well together to drive the story onward.
There is one other element to the story, one where we get a clearer picture of the person behind the abduction of Jodie and those passages are quite chilling in the casual tone which they display. The bad guy is hidden in plain sight in this book, and although suspicion may move from one person to another, it is never really clear who is behind it. Thankfully, although the implications of what happens to Jodie are very clear, they are kept largely off the page. There are scenes which may still upset people, particularly as Mathew battles with his own problems, but nothing is dealt with in a gratuitous way. There are links back into another of the author's novels that eagle eyed readers may spot, and it makes me very glad I don't live in a neighbourhood like this one. At least ... I don't think I do ...
Another cracking read that fans of the author are going to love.
I have read a number of Mark Tilbury's books and what they all have in common, aside from a story which grips you very quickly and keeps you glued to the page, is the fact they have have very strong and very diverse characters, In this book, the main protagonist is Mathew, a young man with mental health and developmental issues. It is clear from the outset that there is something different about Mathew, something that makes him a natural suspect and although we don't know what or why to being with, the more we read, the more we learn. Mark Tilbury has developed him in a very sympathetic and understanding way, whilst also highlighting the many prejudices that someone with Mathew's condition have to face.
One such character guilty of this prejudice is the police's other main suspect - Jim Bentley. He is as objectionable a character as you could ever hope not to meet and doesn't seem to have a single redeeming quality. He is one of those characters you love to hate, driven by drugs and depravity and his actions throughout the book will likely shock. I can honestly say there wasn't a single thing to like about him as a character and you could easliy picture him as being guilty.
Mathew has a very simple view on life, struggles to understand its complexities, and the fact that a large portion of the story is told from his pint of view, makes the way in which the readers experience the story very different too, and I liked the narrative techniques that the author chose to use in order for Mathew to puzzle things out in his head. It makes his voice and his part in the story quite distinct from the other characters such as Bentley and Jodie's mother, Alison, when they take over the narrative perspective. Mathews is a very childlike perspective, compared to Bentley's anger and Alison's fear, but all three work well together to drive the story onward.
There is one other element to the story, one where we get a clearer picture of the person behind the abduction of Jodie and those passages are quite chilling in the casual tone which they display. The bad guy is hidden in plain sight in this book, and although suspicion may move from one person to another, it is never really clear who is behind it. Thankfully, although the implications of what happens to Jodie are very clear, they are kept largely off the page. There are scenes which may still upset people, particularly as Mathew battles with his own problems, but nothing is dealt with in a gratuitous way. There are links back into another of the author's novels that eagle eyed readers may spot, and it makes me very glad I don't live in a neighbourhood like this one. At least ... I don't think I do ...
Another cracking read that fans of the author are going to love.
June 10, 2020
It was only fairly recently that I discovered how fantastic an author Mark Tilbury is. Since my 'discovery', I have kept pace with Mark's new releases and reading his earlier work when I have some spare time. I read the synopsis of 'The Last One To See Her' and it certainly sounded like one hell of a twisty read and then some. I wasn't wrong either because I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Last One To See Her', but more about that in a bit.
I wasn't quite sure what to make of Mathew. He suffered a brain injury some time ago, which has changed his personality and behaviour. He does seem a little odd in certain behaviours and I wasn't sure how much could be attributed to the head injury or if this was just how he was before the head injury. I wasn't quite sure how to take Mathew and I can't say that I really took to him. Of course, that might be me being suspicious of everybody and believing nobody. One character that really did give me the shivers was Jim Bentley. There was something about him that I really disliked. I wouldn't trust him and I would steer well clear. He comes across as a real bully, who gets off on intimidating others and preying on the weak.
Oh my flipping word, 'The Last One To See Her' was another seriously fantastic book. I was gripped by the story from the moment I first picked up the book until I read the last word on the last page. I was simply unable to put the book down. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I didn't want to miss a single second of the story. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen, so I needed to keep reading to see if I was right or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened steadily grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of the story, which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased to finish because at least I knew how the story ended but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'The Last One To See Her' is superbly written but then I think that to be true of Mark's work in general. He has one of those writing styles that is easy to take to and easy to get along with. Mark has a disturbed mind- well he must have to keep coming up with such shocking plots. Mark grabbed my attention from the start and he took me on one seriously fast and unpredictable rollercoaster ride through Mathew's life and the events which follow the disappearance of the young girl. 'The Last One To See Her' certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of the seat throughout. There were also several twists and turns within the story, which I didn't see coming.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Last One To See Her' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will be reading more of Mark's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I wasn't quite sure what to make of Mathew. He suffered a brain injury some time ago, which has changed his personality and behaviour. He does seem a little odd in certain behaviours and I wasn't sure how much could be attributed to the head injury or if this was just how he was before the head injury. I wasn't quite sure how to take Mathew and I can't say that I really took to him. Of course, that might be me being suspicious of everybody and believing nobody. One character that really did give me the shivers was Jim Bentley. There was something about him that I really disliked. I wouldn't trust him and I would steer well clear. He comes across as a real bully, who gets off on intimidating others and preying on the weak.
Oh my flipping word, 'The Last One To See Her' was another seriously fantastic book. I was gripped by the story from the moment I first picked up the book until I read the last word on the last page. I was simply unable to put the book down. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I didn't want to miss a single second of the story. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen, so I needed to keep reading to see if I was right or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened steadily grew and grew. All too quickly I reached the end of the story, which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased to finish because at least I knew how the story ended but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'The Last One To See Her' is superbly written but then I think that to be true of Mark's work in general. He has one of those writing styles that is easy to take to and easy to get along with. Mark has a disturbed mind- well he must have to keep coming up with such shocking plots. Mark grabbed my attention from the start and he took me on one seriously fast and unpredictable rollercoaster ride through Mathew's life and the events which follow the disappearance of the young girl. 'The Last One To See Her' certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of the seat throughout. There were also several twists and turns within the story, which I didn't see coming.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Last One To See Her' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will be reading more of Mark's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
May 23, 2020
Mark Tilbury writes dark and gritty crime fiction. In his latest book, The Last One To See Her, eleven-year-old Jodie Willis disappears after she visits the local shop. Three people are the last to see her alive, Matthew Hillock, a young man who has suffered a horrific trauma in his past, Jim Bentley, a drug dealer who has been on the police radar for years, and the shop owner. But witness statements quickly complicate the case. Matthew soon finds himself at the centre of the police probe, but even he isn’t sure of his innocence. As the police investigation deepens, Matthew has to consider the unthinkable.
The Last One To See Her was a really gripping read. Like Matthew’s family, I couldn’t believe that he was the one responsible for Jodie’s disappearance, and even as the evidence mounted, I felt sure that someone was setting him up. Matthew has been left with brain damage following a horrific attack on his family several years earlier when his father and sister were killed. It was only by pure chance that Matthew even survived the attack after being saved by his brother. I could easily see how Matthew could be made to be a scapegoat in this case, and you can see how quickly people turn against him, just because he is different, and this made me feel really sorry for him. Mark Tilbury paints a clear picture of just how vulnerable he is.
Jim Bentley is a character who will get under your skin. Violence comes as second nature to him, and from the very first moment when Mark Tilbury introduces him to us, he made me feel uncomfortable. A lot of the time, Jim expresses anger and frustration, and his overriding need for drugs drives this. Jim is also willing to do anything to cover up his crimes. I really hated Jim as I was reading. Making his characters come to life is what Mark Tilbury does really well, and I wanted the police to get to the real truth as I was sure that Matthew wasn’t involved.
Mark Tilbury doesn’t shy away from violence, and there are some quite graphic scenes in this book, so this wouldn’t be for the faint-hearted. The opening chapter is really dramatic as well, which had me hooked very early on. There are some terrifying moments as well which had my eyes glued to the page as I wanted to find out what happened next. Every time I got to the end of a chapter, I had to read on to find out how things were going to pan out.
Throughout the book, I was never certain who was responsible for Jodie’s disappearance. I could also still never entirely be sure about Matthew, and this was what kept me turning the pages, I really wanted him to be innocent, but I also had to know the truth. Mark Tilbury creates nail-biting suspense in the final chapters of this book as the plot unravels.
This is the first book I have read by Mark Tilbury, and I am certain that it won’t be my last. The Last One To See Her is a read which you won’t want to put down!
The Last One To See Her was a really gripping read. Like Matthew’s family, I couldn’t believe that he was the one responsible for Jodie’s disappearance, and even as the evidence mounted, I felt sure that someone was setting him up. Matthew has been left with brain damage following a horrific attack on his family several years earlier when his father and sister were killed. It was only by pure chance that Matthew even survived the attack after being saved by his brother. I could easily see how Matthew could be made to be a scapegoat in this case, and you can see how quickly people turn against him, just because he is different, and this made me feel really sorry for him. Mark Tilbury paints a clear picture of just how vulnerable he is.
Jim Bentley is a character who will get under your skin. Violence comes as second nature to him, and from the very first moment when Mark Tilbury introduces him to us, he made me feel uncomfortable. A lot of the time, Jim expresses anger and frustration, and his overriding need for drugs drives this. Jim is also willing to do anything to cover up his crimes. I really hated Jim as I was reading. Making his characters come to life is what Mark Tilbury does really well, and I wanted the police to get to the real truth as I was sure that Matthew wasn’t involved.
Mark Tilbury doesn’t shy away from violence, and there are some quite graphic scenes in this book, so this wouldn’t be for the faint-hearted. The opening chapter is really dramatic as well, which had me hooked very early on. There are some terrifying moments as well which had my eyes glued to the page as I wanted to find out what happened next. Every time I got to the end of a chapter, I had to read on to find out how things were going to pan out.
Throughout the book, I was never certain who was responsible for Jodie’s disappearance. I could also still never entirely be sure about Matthew, and this was what kept me turning the pages, I really wanted him to be innocent, but I also had to know the truth. Mark Tilbury creates nail-biting suspense in the final chapters of this book as the plot unravels.
This is the first book I have read by Mark Tilbury, and I am certain that it won’t be my last. The Last One To See Her is a read which you won’t want to put down!
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