June 2024 FBR - Main Buddy Read: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Welcome to the June "Main" Buddy Read!
starts 1-Jun-2024, ends 3-Jun-2024

Our theme this month is Mystery and we're reading The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.

Before Owen Michaels disappears he smuggles a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her. Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child and wants nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss, as a U.S. marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

When using this Buddy Read to get Bonus Points for a Challenge, please check with the mod running the Challenge for any posting requirements not listed below!
✨(Impossible) Disney Challenge - to receive bonus points for this challenge, you must read the book and participate (at least 3 meaningful comments) in discussions.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

R

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

I started this today and I've gotten through part 1. I'm intrigued by the mystery so far. I have lots of questions!

Why is Austin, TX important?
Who is the U.S. marshal really... and why did he show up (and so quickly)?
Why Why Why!?
Why the money?

Hmmmm... I also think it's fun that we really don't actually meet Owen (other than in flashbacks) before this "crime" occurs.

Looking forward to Part 2!!

[Angie ☯]

I've already read this one! I'll check, but don't think it has been long enough for a re-read.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Alright, so I've finished Part 2.

We definitely dive deeper here into the complexities of their marriage and while we find out answers, it only leads to more questions. I won't comment much on that, since I don't want to spoil anything for anyone reading.

I so far really like the author's approach to this mystery. It isn't dull, I'm not growing bored (as I often do with this genre), and it's suspenseful.

I'm very interested to know what Part 3 reveals!

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Finished!

I liked this a lot and I'm giving it a solid 4 stars! I am definitely willing to pick up another book by the author! I enjoyed her prose and the first-person narrative of this book!

The book is well-paced, and I think it does a good job of balancing suspenseful moments with emotional depth.

I like that while Owen is absent for most of the book, his presence looms large.

Very good!

[Bernadette]

I read this book 3 years ago, I agree that it was very good!

[Eunice]

Ashley wrote: "I started this today and I've gotten through part 1. I'm intrigued by the mystery so far. I have lots of questions!

Why is Austin, TX important?
Who is the U.S. marshal really... and why did he sh..."

So many questions, but no answers. I didn't know whether the money was supposed to be for them to spend and live or if it's dirty money that Owen hid using his family. The FBI and Marshall thing really threw me off too. Really set up an atmosphere that no one could be trusted.

[Eunice]

Ashley wrote: "Finished!

I liked this a lot and I'm giving it a solid 4 stars! I am definitely willing to pick up another book by the author! I enjoyed her prose and the first-person narrative of this book!

The..."

4 stars here as well. It was better than I expected; I thought this was just going to be a 3 star. I was surprised by the emotional depth at the end while still being suspenseful from start to end, and I'm glad that I was able to pick this up. I don't think I would've if it weren't for this buddy read.

[Eunice]

Also, TIL that the US Marshals Service is also a federal agency like the FBI. Not an American, so I don't really understand why you need both. Jurisdiction can overlap (like in book), and it's just a bureacratic nightmare where you can have interference from both sides from influential people on either side.

(view spoiler)[Thought to search because I'd thought it strange that the FBI agents quickly faded to the background. I thought they'd play a more relevant role. (hide spoiler)]