• The Last Thing He Told Me

  • A Novel
  • By: Laura Dave
  • Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
  • Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (56,976 ratings)

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The Last Thing He Told Me  By  cover art

The Last Thing He Told Me

By: Laura Dave
Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
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Publisher's summary

A 2022 Audie Award Finalist

The instant #1 New York Times bestselling mystery and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick that’s captivated more than a million readers about a woman searching for the truth about her husband’s disappearance…at any cost.

“A fast-moving, heartfelt thriller about the sacrifices we make for the people we love most.” —Real Simple

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 exactly to whom the note refers—Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely 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 US marshal and federal agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they’re also building a new future—one neither of them could have anticipated.

With its breakneck pacing, dizzying plot twists, and evocative family drama, The Last Thing He Told Me is a riveting mystery, certain to shock you with its final, heartbreaking turn.

©2021 Laura Dave. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Rebecca Lowman's methodical performance will hook listeners until the very end of this contemporary mystery. Hannah wakes up one day to find her husband of one year, Owen, has vanished, leaving her a puzzling note: 'Protect her.' Hannah assumes that 'her' refers to Owen's teenage daughter, Bailey, who has despised Hannah from day one. While this is a typical story of two individuals who are at odds being forced to work together, Lowman's portrayals of the characters and the mystery surrounding Owen's secret life will intrigue listeners." (AudioFile Magazine)

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What listeners say about The Last Thing He Told Me

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    33,209
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    14,920
  • 3 Stars
    6,232
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Story
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    12,591
  • 3 Stars
    5,707
  • 2 Stars
    1,998
  • 1 Stars
    1,116

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

The worst book I have ever heard

I have read and listened to some pretty terrible books. This was by far the worst book I’ve ever listened to in my logs. Legitimately so bad. The plot holes, the terrible characters, the fact that the whole story and the ending did not make a bit of sense? Why are there so many good reviews? Did everyone listen to a different book?? I cannot wrap my mind around how bad this book is.

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418 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Grating writing style

First Laura Dave novel I’ve read/listened to. Don’t like the writing style that seems to be popular and “critically-acclaimed” for this genre. Saying everything in multiple different ways to prolong the story - for example, “then I did it. I did the one thing I knew I had to do all along. The one thing that ....” making the reader wait through a few more sentences or paragraphs until making the point. It’s almost as if the author has to reach a certain word count or something. I find Marisa De Los Santos’ novels are like that too. May be fine as a quick actual book read, but listening to this writing style got grating.

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279 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

She Wasn’t Wrong...

No spoilers:
“She wasn’t wrong” is certainly the favorite line for the first 2 chapters. Sister loves using using repetition. “She called me a hypocrite. She called me a hypocrite, and she wasn’t wrong.” “A chair, a deep leather chair.” “I am alone. So very alone.” “I put my drink down. Very gently, I put my drink down.” So much repetition throughout. So much repetition. So so much.

I am honestly surprised the reviews aren’t more mixed. It’s not that I didn’t like it. This book is pretty good, interesting, unique, mildly entertaining, but I’ve heard better. I really enjoyed the last few chapters, but I’m not sure if that makes it worth it for me.

I’m thinking Lowman tells a mean bedtime story, because I liked this most right before bed. She just makes me feel so relaxed and sleepy, which isn’t what I’m going for while doing chores and listening to entertainment. I would suggest speeding up to 1.1. The book probably would have been about 2 hours shorter if it weren’t for the looooong sleepy passion-free narration and all the repetition.

I’m also confused about why books like this keep showing up in the psychological thriller section. My reviews would probably be better if the expectations were appropriate.

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182 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

good story, great narration, poor writing

Really enjoyed this narrator, and the book is easy to get through. It's a good thing it's fast paced and plot driven, because the writing isn't great. Most overused phrase - "that stopped me". It became comedic to hear it again and again. Overall, entertaining but nothing particularly special.

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140 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A MUST READ

I just Couldn’t stop listening ~ it’s an amazing story ... I didn’t want it to end ~

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43 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A gripping novel

I enjoyed listening to it. The story is filled with unexpected turns that make you want to keep listening.

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Repetitive and whiny

If I hear the name ‘Bailey’ one more time...Or the words “Protect her” in a slow whiny voice... I can’t explain how repetitive in every way this book is. Also the narrator sounded whiny and longing throughout the entire reading. I wanted it over 1/2 through...and if you think this will be a thriller, you will be as disappointed as I was.

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39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I finished it in two days.

I enjoyed the book. it has some twists and turns that I was expecting and some that I wasn't.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The most annoying narration and wasted plot and characters ever

Never mind that the story just never gets any better . I just kept waiting for the big plot reveal and I seriously did a double take when I saw only 4 minutes left on the audio recording . Seriously ? I wasted 10 hours listening to the most annoying narration of a whiny maudlin female protagonist with very shallow character development wax on and on about a spoiled brat character who really should have been grounded for the way she spoke to her parents . Finally , I could care less about any of the characters by the end . Such an utter waste of time and no reward .

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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not Entertaining

Stupid plot and stupid main character. She went looking for trouble and found it. Ruined a family, but she got a daughter out of it. Wasn’t suspenseful, no twists, no humor, and wasn’t thought provoking. Also the narrator was annoying. Her enunciation was off. Her saying the daughter’s name was like nails on a chalk board.

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26 people found this helpful