The Last Highway

By: R.J. Ellory

Narrated by: Jeff Harding

Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

A sheriff investigates his own brother's murder, deep in the heart of Appalachia...

Estranged after a devastating betrayal, brothers Victor and Frank Landis - sheriffs of neighbouring counties - hadn't spoken for years. In truth, Victor didn't care if Frank was alive or dead. Until the day somebody killed him.

Crossing county lines in search of answers, Victor is soon on the trail of a sinister conspiracy that takes him deep into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. From the poorest communities to the most powerful and corrupt organisations, he soon becomes ensnared in a dangerous web of drugs, trafficking and murder.

For Victor, finding the truth will mean uncovering dark secrets he'd rather have left buried, and risking everything to protect the family his brother left behind...

At once a gripping mystery and a moving portrait of life in an isolated, misunderstood community, The Last Highway is the latest atmospheric suspense novel from award-winning Sunday Times bestseller, RJ Ellory.

©2023 R.J. Ellory (P)2023 Orion Publishing Group Limited

An Outstanding and Most Satisfying Novel

Starting a new book by R J Ellory is always a banner day for me: it is visiting an old friend, a journey I know I will appreciate and enjoy. Usually I know 12 – 18 months ahead of the launch that the new book is on its way. As indicated in earlier reviews I first found Roger in 2015 when I read A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS. This was my book of the year – the decade, and it pleases me greatly that my email to Roger to simply let him know that after only four chapters I was hooked, has resulted in a friendship, that despite the distance from Australia to the UK, is reinforced year by year with us now having exchanged over 200 emails: good wishes at Christmas and birthdays, comments about the latest book, its progress and expected publication date, my reviews and his kind words about some of my short stories.
So, you might say: “Why bother reading this review, you’re going to say it is great?” That is probably true, because Roger is richly diverse, and BOTH his prose and plots are excellent, you see the land and hear the voices of the characters, but I give an honest reading and review. It is only natural that for every writer, some books are better than others, and for every reader, coming from a subjective base, they will appreciate one book more than another.
So far I have read (listened to) the first five chapters and it is off to a “ripping” start. With typical economy in the first few hundred words we know Victor Landis is sheriff of a rural county, his brother Frank, sheriff of an adjacent county, from whom he has been estranged for years, has been murdered, and the seeds are sown for a family drama unfolded against a background of mystery and violence in the Appalachian Mountains. Any reader who wasn’t engaged at this point must be asleep.
And now I have just finished. Below is an extract from an email I sent to Roger.
“I just finished listening to THE LAST HIGHWAY. This is an outstanding book and I think the best you have written in some years. Let me highlight some of my reasons for that observation:
• The third person viewpoint is perfectly chosen, it wouldn't be as good in the first person.
• Victor Landis is one of your very best characters: his dialogue is true to who he is, his age, rural roots and focus. Not once did I feel he said anything "out of character".
• I don't believe you could have obtained a better reader for this than Jeff Harding. He captured the subtle changes in the characters and even how they respond to the drama of the moment, both male and female, connecting them all with a perfectly paced rendering of the prose.
• We, the readers, become aware of the horrendous crimes being perpetrated against the innocents at the same time as Victor, following through on his investigation as he pieces together the various fragments, and moving with him from a reluctant obligation to his murdered brother, to determination to do the right thing by his previously unknown niece, to mete out justice for the innocent victims.
• I particularly like the relationship with Barbara, his despatcher - girl Friday - girl every day. Not only did it ring true, but their exchanges were often funny and lightened the drama, even if only momentarily.
• Often you read a book and think (or say out loud in exasperation). "Really good idea, but the ending wasn't realistic, or too contrived." This was credible throughout, leading to a realistic climax and denouement - and, of major import: most satisfying.
• Full marks, I hope it sells a million copies plus for you. Also, it would make a terrific movie. Victor is a strong, focused character who will do whatever it takes, a bit like Vigo Mortensen in A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE and Denzel Washington in MAN ON FIRE. I noticed A QUIET VENDETTA is in production for a TV series, so this could be next.”
I cannot recommend THE LAST HIGHWAY too highly. Even though it is only March I expect this will be my book for 2023.
Happy reading, Eric.

The too long highway

Long, too many words and longer descriptions and dialogues.
Wish it had been simpler and lighter. It drags on and on and you end up being bored, though
the main character’s profile comes to the rescue and sometimes delivers you from acute lethargy.