My Five Word TL:DR Review: Groundhog Day meets Dante’s Inferno

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from The Last Hour but Melissa Caruso is an author I like so I was immediately attracted to this and I’m really happy that I requested it.  This is such a captivating story, I loved the writing, the characters the plot and the setting.  Put simply it was quite magical.

I’m loving my mysteries at the moment and this definitely brings that element to the story by the bucket load.  Caruso has taken a setting which she then uses relentlessly throughout the entire story.  You’d think it would become tedious but it’s actually exactly the opposite because each time the clock tolls the hour the room is transformed.  Basically, in this world there are echoes.  Echoes are like the ‘real’ world but with changes, subtle at first but increasing in oddity and danger as the echoes get lower and lower.  I realise I’ve probably made an absolute mess of explaining that but in my head it all makes perfect sense.

So, picture the scene.  It’s New Years Eve and Kembral Thorne is going to a party.  Kem is an investigator for the Hounds but currently on maternity leave with a young baby.  She’s still struggling to come to grips with everything, especially as the father made a swift exit when he discovered the pregnancy.  This is the first time that Kem has been out since the birth and she’s 50% elation and 60% guilt.  She’s absolutely determined to enjoy this decadent party, even though some of her colleagues, also in attendance, are also determined to plague her about when she’s going to return to work.

Also at the party, Rika Nonesuch (which, can I just say I love that name for some inexplicable reason).  The two have a history that ended in tears.  Well, Rika is a Cat – and we all know that cats and dogs can be at each other’s throats.  She’s a burglar, and one of the best.

On top of this something just feels wrong.  Even though she’s exhausted, sleep deprived and ridden with guilt Kem can’t help detecting little things that seem amiss, not to mention having a sudden pull towards an old clock that seems to be a relic from the past – and also haunted by a young girl.

I don’t want to give away too much about the plot, basically, there are some seriously big players (by which I mean powerful) using this party as their own personal playground to try and score points over each other.  Each level gets more and more intense until the bodycount and action are crazy.

The setting.  Well, we have a few little excursions out into the wilder parts of some of the echoes and they are creepy and yet strangely exhilarating.  But, the majority of the action takes place within the mansion where the party is being held.  The absolutely winning element is that as the clock strikes the hour the house finds itself an echo lower with the danger cranking up each time.  Also, each time the house ‘falls’, for want of a better word, it’s like a reset button has been pressed and all the players (mostly) are back on the board.  I loved this idea – hence the groundhog day comparison.  Each level the mansion changes.  I mean, could you make it any more complicated for yourself as an author – but I loved this idea.  There’s such a lot of creativity and it’s so cunningly explored.

I think the two main characters are good together.  They know each other, they have a history, they start things definitely on a rocky footing but gradually have to pull together to survive and this is when all the kinks start to get worked out.

The pacing is really good.  There is time to reflect, there’s plenty of action and sometimes it feels like hardly enough time to catch your breath before the next crisis, but, as I said, this is very well executed and there are always little moments for respite.

The writing is beautiful.  I was quite mesmerised really.  I don’t know what else I can say other than it was a lovely read. I wouldn’t say I sped through this but that’s more to do with my reading at the moment and I actually enjoyed taking my time and savouring every element.

In conclusion.  A beautifully written mystery with plenty of magic, critters and characters that really grow on you.  I can’t wait for the next instalment.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars