Creepy from the outset this is a fast paced book with many moments when you just want to scream out loud at the characters!
Trapped in a small farm with a crippling leg injury "Jane" is captive and desperate. Her "husband" who is holding her captive is so remote and disassociated with reality that he becomes more and more menacing with each chapter- truly believing his life is just about perfect with his wife.
Desperate, Jane tries to escape on multiple occasions but never quite reaches civilisation until one day help comes in the form of a second captive.
I was on the edge of my seat for much of the latter third of the book, willing Jane on to make good her escape and devastated as each attempt was thwarted.

A brutal read, I have no words, but have donated to www.unseenuk.org. Thank you for opening my eyes.

Gosh, that was quite something. I found this a sickening, spine-tingling, and awe-inspiring experience. I kept thinking that I wouldn't finish, then find myself reading a bit more.

While it's an awful story, it is also an intriguing and thought-provoking read, and if this doesn't make you rethink the human race, then I don't know. We tend to box this sort of thing, and by that I mean the stuff we don't necessarily want to delve too deeply into, like abattoirs, factory farms, child labour, vivisection, slavery, pedophile rings. We know about it, we know it exists and we shudder as we lock our doors and hold our children close, that world is so far removed from our own organized, safe society, with book stores and air conditioning and coffee shops. But that doesn't mean it is any less real, and that monsters don't exist. They do, and they look just like us.

I loved the ending, and if Cynth were real, I'd so much want to meet her. It wasn't my favourite read, it wasn't even the most thought-provoking, gut-wrenching, sad or even horrifying book I've ever read (albeit terrible, in many ways), but it is worth reading. It is well-written and has a certain nonchalance that makes you shudder - as if the calm before the storm has come to an end and all hell is about to break loose. Which it sort of does, but in a dead, cold way. It is gripping,and chilling, and most gratifying, as long as you see it through. And what a clever title!


Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton, Will Dean and Netflix for my ARC.

A compelling and chilling story of human trafficking and modern-day slavery written in the first person and is horrifyingly tense and totally unputdownable! Jane (not her name) is 7 years captive and is controlled, spied on and exploited every second of every day. She complies with her brutal captor only to enable the freedom and safety of her sister. This is a gripping, tense and unfortunately true to life novel that is brilliantly written.

One of the best books I have read this year. "Jane" is kept prisoner by her husband on a remote farm, and feels completely trapped. When she becomes pregnant this gives her the impetus to flee, and we see the consequences of that. Really well written, highly recommended.

This is probably the most thrilling book I have read this year. Two sisters brought to England with the promise of a better life. "Jane" (not her real name) lives on a remote pig farm in the middle of nowhere, a place with no escape, she is watched every minute of everyday by cameras which are viewed by her captive every night. Treated as a slave she is abused both physically and sexually and penalised by having her prized possessions from home removed one by one if she dares to step out of line. Her only happiness is reading the letters she has been sent from her sister who appears to happy and loving life.
When "Jane" finds out she is pregnant her grit and determination kicks in. She must protect her child at all costs.
This book was riveting from start to finish, I seriously could not breathe until the last page. I would urge anyone who loves a psychological thriller to buy this book. I look forward to reading more by Will Dean.

Wow I was unable to put this book down. It was fast paced and I read it in two sittings.

It was not an easy read at times and my heart went out to Jane and the way she was forced to live and the mental cruelty inflicted on her. Just when you thought she was about to break free events changed.

I would highly recommend this book it really was a great read. One of my top reads of the year..

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review

This is a gripping story about the harsh abuse suffered by Jane, who is held captive by Lenn, in an outlying farm miles from anywhere.
Jane (whose real name is Thanh Dao) and her sister Kim Ly were brought into the country from Vietnam by people traffickers, being promised high wages and good working conditions. However, they were lied to and Jane is no more than a slave without any means of escape from the brutal treatment of her abuser. The book title refers to Jane’s small amount of precious possessions which is all she has left. If she disobeys Lenn, he burns one of her possessions and she has few left to give her comfort. She bravely suffers all this in order to give her sister Kim Ly a better life.
The author describes the characters so skilfully, you feel that you know them, and empathise with Jane, which isn’t her real name, but the name chosen by Lenn. He is a brutal, domineering character who has no respect for his captive who is watched by cameras every hour of the day, which he sees as his right.
The story tells in graphic detail about the harsh reality of people trafficking, and I felt total empathy with Jane, who has no escape from the brutality and drudgery of her existence. I needed to know that she would eventually find freedom from the bitter depravity of her life and find freedom and peace. And became totally absorbed in how she managed to put up with such pain and anguish, and became totally engrossed in the story.
The last few chapters of the book were so fast-paced I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.

I love Will Dean's Tuvy Moodyson books, but this is something a little different. Set in the UK, 'The Last Thing to Burn' is the story of' 'Jane' - a trafficked Vietnamese woman, kept prisoner by her husband, Len. Len is brutally controlling, although it is the moments when he expects Jane to sit as his feet as he watches TV, strokes her hair and elicits reassurances from her that this is a good life, that are perhaps the most chilling. Jane only has three possessions left that she cares about: a photo of her parents, a copy of 'Of Mice and Men', and the letters that her sister sends as she works off her debt to the traffickers in another part of the country. But Len is intent on destroying every last connection that ties her to the outside world. A thoroughly gripping but a heartrendingly difficult book to read. (Len goes straight to the top of my list of most-hated literary characters.)

Wow, what a wonderful, albeit brutal story of despair and hope which is hard to read at times but so very satisfying in the end. I won’t repeat the blurb of the story but will just say if you’re looking for a gripping read that is a little uncomfortable in places whilst willing on the survival of an abused human being then this is as good as it gets. The characters are engrossing and the descriptions of the dilapidated farmhouse along with the Fens is just so atmospheric and perfect.

Just when you thought there was hope the author brings it all crashing down forcing you to keep turning the pages to see whether survival for anyone is possible.

An absolute brilliant, well written read with parts you’ll enjoy not enjoying!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a lover of thrillers but this one really gave me the chills. It’s the horror of the plot and the fact that can be a true story for many people that tried to find a life elsewhere and fell to the hands of traffickers. My heart broke many times reading the terrors and the struggles of the main character. I felt myself breaking reading it, and this is the amazing part of this book. It was intense, disturbing (quite often for me), unsettling and definitely food for thought and at the same time brilliant and compelling. This will stay with me for some time...

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for an ARC
This is the first Will Dean book I have read. It is a stand alone thriller. It isn't "twisty turny" beloved of so many but then a stonking good read doesn't have to be, especially when a lot of twists and turns are so contrived as to be off the scale with unbelievability.
Jane- not her real name is "married" to Lenn. She lives in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. She has to cook, clean, have sex with a monster who videos her every move and keeps her a virtual prisoner. Jane has been trafficked and what follows is a harrowing story of every human right's abuse imaginable.
Lenn is utterly loathsome, a vile, evil man with seemingly all the power until Jane gently begins to start to assert herself, using her new circumstances to exert pressure on him. Jane is a brave, strong woman. These two characters mostly dominate the book and the powerplay between the two is riveting. Some call the ending predictable, I disagree. In these situations there are only a few scenarios that will happen at the end. Beaming onto an alien starship would be unbelievable. I am thankful for the way it ended. The book does offer helplines at the back for anyone to report trafficking or seek help if a victim. This also highlights our attitude to refugees. They face the most appalling atrocities and seek a new life only to be abused when they arrive in what is supposed to be a civilised country. This is the 21st century and slavery was supposed to have been abolished centuries ago.. This is a cracking read, tense, full of drama and I hope it opens people's eyes

Don't want to give any spoilers away, but the premise is that 'Jane' not her real name has been trafficked from Vietnam along with her sister. Jane lives in a farm with her British 'husband' who treats her like a slave, she believes her sister got away and is living happily somewhere else..... Until one day she finds out the truth. Such a harrowing story of human trafficking that unfortunately still happens in the 21st century.

Thank you net galley for the opportunity to read this novel and to Will Dean for writing it, will certainly be looking out for more from you.

What a read, i think slightly terrifying to be honest and reminds of some sinister horror movie. That said i didn't want to put it down to be honest as i had to know what happened in the end. No spoilers but the book is basically about a woman that was human trafficked from Vietnam, and is now trapped in the house with her British husband. Basically it's a depressing situation for the lady and grim at times but that made the read even more exciting to know what happened. i finished this in 3 days.

Amazing, clapping and cheering for all four of them. A moving and stomach churning look at human trafficking. This story gives a brief glimpse into the horrors and daily abuses of one young girl whose identity is slowly stolen from her each time Lenn thinks she has transgressed. The last thing is the letters written by her baby sister, she is living free, out in the world and "Jane" dreams of the day their debt is paid in full.

With thanks to #NetGalley and #Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

Jane. That’s what he calls her but that’s not her name and never will be, but she must play along as he has her trapped on his farm miles from anywhere. Jane has to cook, clean and fulfil his every wish or she will be punished. She can’t escape as he records her every movement. She’s imprisoned. Then she discovers she is pregnant and this gives her a reason to fight back. But when another woman is imprisoned by him, Jane’s life becomes desperate. Can Jane fight back, for her and her baby and also save this strange woman, or is she condemned to be his for the rest of her life?
Will Dean has created a masterpiece of dark intense literature that is nothing short of perfection. With its highly emotive scenes and sense of utter desperation, every page leaves you on edge. This is a book that’s impossible to put down until it’s dramatic end. A truly great piece of writing.
Simply put, you won’t read a better book than this all year. The easiest five star review I’ve ever given. Just brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.
Thanh Dao, aka Jane to her “husband”, is human trafficked from Vietnam to England, held in a farm cottage surrounded by miles of nothingness. Leonard believes he is her loving husband, monitoring her every move, each breathe she takes he is there to hear it or at least play it back when he watches the tapes every single day like clockwork. Thanh has to stick to his routine, she has to wear his mothers clothes, and isn’t even allowed sanitary products instead using moth eaten towels. A story filled with punishment, degradation and revolting control. How can Thanh ever leave when her every move is watched, her last remaining possessions are burned to a crisp when she ‘steps out of place’ and her ankle is destroyed with her only option being able to take unlabelled pills meant for animals. A claustrophobic novel that traps you in that very farm with Thanh, desperate to escape.

This was an absolutely fantastic read, and one I just couldn’t put down! I read it in one day, despite there being many parts that were too difficult for me to read. Prepare for your heart to break and your body to shiver, the book explores every detail of Thanh’s traumatising ordeal.

The author’s clever writing style constantly creates unsettling imagery for the dark, decaying farm house that you almost believe you’re there yourself, trapped as prisoner.

I would have liked to hear more about Lenn’s back story, I was surprised when we didn’t hear more about his childhood, his upbringing and his mother. I wanted to explore the inner workings of Lenn’s mind and how he came to be such a monster. But perhaps some people are just the way they are. Some monsters are just seemingly ordinary people with no real reason for their unjust and cruel crimes.

If you’re after an intense, thrilling and horrifying read, then look no further!

Ive just spent about three days with Jane. Jane is married to Lenn and they have a farm in Kings Lynn, except, her name is not Jane, and he is her captor.
An exciting and tense tale, addressing a very real subject matter.
The characters in this story are all sharp and alive, with tangible emotional depth
This is very much a 'can't put down, edge of your seat, holding your breath' kind of book, the best kind.

‘I remember his terrible threat every time I see the long dyke. I look at that unending line of still water and my heart collapses in on itself.’ So says ‘Jane’, the latest in the number of Vietnamese wives whom Lenn has incarcerated in his Fenland farm cottage. He has threatened to drown their baby daughter in one of the surrounding dykes should Jane ever think of escaping, an almost impossible act given that he has horribly maimed one of her feet. Geographically, too, she is up against it. Given the extraordinarily flat scenery, Lenn can see her outside wherever he is on his farm. Cameras inside follow her every move too. Flight is impossible.
This novel is extremely painful to read. Nevertheless, whilst never sinking to gratuitous description of the horrors that unfold, Will Dean conjures up Jane’s terrible half-life so convincingly. It would be a mistake to write off Lenn as a stupid ox of a man; he knows just how to punish Jane psychologically as well as physically. Yet, above all, it is a celebration of human resilience, a tribute to the power of love, and an acknowledgement that people can be braver than they ever thought possible.
At a time when we have become more aware of modern-day slavery, this novel is a prescient reminder that it can happen in the most ordinary of places, executed by those who appear entirely conventional. This is an engrossing, powerfully written story, very well told. I urge you to read it notwithstanding the pain it will bring in thinking of the many real stories yet to be told.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

Outstanding writing! A suffocating, gruelling, heartbreaking, IMPORTANT book about human trafficking, an abusive relationship and a mother’s love. This book will stay with me for a long time, as will the brave and brilliant protagonist, Thanh Dao. I haven’t read anything from this writer before and I was pleasantly surprised that this novel was written by a male.

I am recommending this to everyone. I rarely hand out 5 stars but this beautifully horrific masterpiece deserves every star.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.