"I think," Randy says, "that violent lives got a way of ending violently.

TW: Suic!de

When Cutter Labasque's body is found in a swamp in Louisiana, not even her two brothers seem upset. The small town of Jacknife avoids her and her rough, alligator-hunting family when they can. The police say Cutter died by her own hand. But Cutter's childhood best friend, Loyal, isn't convinced. Even though the two parted on (very) bad terms after high school, Loyal, who's returned to town to look after her ill mother, wants to dig deeper. What she finds is a dark web of corruption, lies and horror.

'Our Last Wild Days' is an atmospheric, Southern gothic, haunting thriller that perfectly evokes the dark and claustrophobic nature of the predator-infested swamps of a poverty-stricken backwater town. The descriptions of the setting are evocative, and I felt as if I was part of the sweaty, mosquito-infested bayous.

While the pacing is slow at the start, it gradually picks up, and the tension builds throughout the novel. The author lets Loyal (and the reader) pick away at the layers of the mystery until shocking truths are revealed.

The book is largely character-driven, and Loyal makes for an interesting MC – conflicted and full of guilt for the way she treated Cutter, now hoping to make amends through her dogged search for what happened to her friend. Loyal is the antithesis of the majority of people in Jacknife, most of whom (except her colleagues at the local newspaper) are happy to accept Cutter's fate.

An immersive, foreboding cracker of a suspense novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This is very much a vibes book, and if you don't like the vibes, you probably won't invest in the story. I did get sucked in - to the extent where I was actually a little disappointed in the mundanity of the ending, but having thought about it for a while I think that was the point. Women everywhere can be killed by men just because they want to, and there's not a lot we can do about it. In a time where women's rights are being eroded (which Bailey touches on more directly in a subplot about abortion) this is a timely read.

I found this a gripping and captivating novel. Similar to Where the Crawdad's Are, but much darker and wilder. I think the mystery element kept me hooked, along with trying to understand the lives of the main characters, living a life so different to the life that I know.

An intense and sultry story set in Louisiana that definitely will appeal to those readers who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Song. A tale of murder and corruption. Of addiction and trauma and living at the raw edge of life.

Loyal has returned to Jackknife to take care of her mom who has early onset dementia. She is anxious about seeing friends she lost touch with after betraying them with a scathing article.

She doesn't expect much excitement to come from working for the local paper, but when her childhood friend Cutter is found dead in the river, she is determined to find out the truth about her death. Cutters brothers Beau and Dewall are hiding their own dark secrets, and events come to a frenzied head when the truth is finally revealed.

Immersive, intriguing and well-crafted this is a fine read.

One of my favourite reads this year, in a similar vein to “Where the Crawdads sing”, however this novel certainly holds it’s own.. Loyal May returns to her home town, after many years, the coastal town of Jacknife on the bayou. Her mother’s mental state is deteriorating and is causing concern. Whilst there, she obtains a journalist position at the local newspaper as a body is found in the marshes, which transpires to be her close friend Cutter. Cutter has lived a hard life alongside her 2 brothers, an accomplished boatwoman and alligator hunter, she is strong & resilient and the storyline revolves around the mystery of her demise.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Pick up this book and you’ll be transported straight to the dark, mosquito-bitten swamps of Jackknife, Louisiana. The secrets that unravel throughout its pages lurk just below the surface, much like the alligators in those waters. It’s a hot, heady read, the humidity practically rises off the page, such is the power of Anna Bailey’s writing.

Hear me out: if you’re a fan of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, you’re likely going to love this. It blends the lyrical beauty of Crawdads with the grit of All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whittaker. But despite the comparisons, this is very much its own novel. Anna Bailey has a rare gift for atmosphere, and their ability to explore the darkest corners of human nature through storytelling is nothing short of stunning. If Southern Gothic were a genre, this would be the defining novel.

The very best and worst of humanity are laid bare here. Oppressive heat, poverty, small-town decay, politics, societal flaws, and the aching, raw pain of trying to hold your life together, it’s all here, captured with intensity and grace.

Brilliant read! A body is found face down in a Louisianan swamp but although the Police rule it an accident, an upcoming journalist and best friend of the deceased thinks something doesn't ring true and sets about some 'off the record' investigations. The book is very descriptive of the area and its all but impossible not to feel you've been transported there whilst reading!

I absolutely loved this book, couldn’t put it down and thoroughly enjoyed it. So evocative of the Louisiana bayou, I loved the characters and was completely drawn in to the mystery surrounding Cutter. I really enjoyed Tall Bones and highly recommend both.

I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Anna Bailey's *Our Last Wild Days* is a masterclass in atmospheric Southern Gothic suspense. Set in the sweltering Louisiana bayou, it’s a dark, gritty, and profoundly moving mystery. When Cutter Labasque is found dead, her estranged friend Loyal May returns, driven by past guilt, to uncover the truth in a town steeped in secrets and corruption.

I was completely captivated by the immersive atmosphere, the complex and flawed characters like Loyal, and the gripping, slow-burn mystery that kept me guessing. Bailey's lyrical prose truly brings the bayou to life, making the setting itself a powerful character. While the initial pacing is a deliberate build-up, it only enhances the deeply immersive experience.

I highly recommend this exceptional book to fans of richly atmospheric mysteries with strong characters and a powerful sense of place. It's a story that will stay with you long after you finish.

Exceptional writing. I had heard about Anna Bailey's writing but it exceeded expectations - brilliantly evoked setting, wonderful characters, nuanced plot. Highly recommended.

Atmospheric, haunting and not your usual thriller!
I loved Annas debut novel Tall Bones, and was really excited to read this one.
It was even better than I could have imagined and one of my top 10 reads this year!
I absolutely loved it and I can’t recommend it enough!
Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my advanced copies!


( Soph's book club )

Set in the small town of Jackknife, Louisianna, A thriller, 'who done it' ,but so much more - guilt, friendship, prejudice, resentments, this novel has it all. I was absolutely hooked. The author's writing is so descriptive and beautiful. I even loved the the names given to the characters - Cutter Labasque, Loyal May, so cleverly conjuring up the deep south setting.
Loyal May returns to Louisianna after many years away, to help her mother. On arrival she discovers her friend, who she had betrayed, is dead. It is quickly decided that it was suicide, but Loyal goes on a quest to prove otherwise,.
A great read. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Weirdly it reminded me in parts of Swamplandia! which I’ve just recently read as both feature alligators, swampland, strong headed female characters and in parts made me think that it could in some ways be a continuation of that story (I know that analogy only works if you’ve read Karen Russell’s book but if you have let me know). I enjoyed this - the murky out-of-town setting, the characters who should principally be good but aren’t and those who are trying to make a difference all coming together with one common aim - the death of Cutter Labasaque.

What a book! I picked this up with great expectations as i loved her debut novel, Tall Bones and this did not disappoint.

Set in small town Louisiana, Jacknife is a small community which is dependent on the alligator swamps and local industrial factories.

Loyal comes home after establishing herself as a journalist, to look after her mother, but also in the hope of righting the wrongs she did with her best friend Cutter many years below. But on her first day working for the local paper, she learns of her former friend's suspicious death and sets about investigating what happened.

So atmospheric, brilliant characterisations, this book was terrifyingly good. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I picked up Our Last Wild Days because I'd enjoyed Anna Bailey's debut novel a lot, so I figured this was a good bet for an enjoyable read: I wasn't wrong. Bailey's writing is the standout of this one, bringing to life a damp cloying atmosphere, filled with fully realised characters. You dip into this one and, before you know it, you're transported to Louisiana and unable to put the book down. The mystery was full of twists and turns, with little bits of information dripfed you even as the characters themselves grappled with the truth. Bailey is definitely an author I'll be reading more of.

After loving Anna’s first novel Tall Bones I was excited to read Our Last Wild Days. It definitely lived up to expectations, I loved it, it is one of my favourite reads this year.

This novel is not your usual mystery thriller, it is about so much more than the mystery of Cutter Labasque’s death . It’s about small town prejudice, the lengths people will go to in order to survive and how the actions of our youth impact our future as adults.

The writing is exquisite, it demands you take your time and savour every word. The sense of time and place is brilliantly realised, you can feel the threat of violence which hangs over Jacknife and the claustrophobia imposed on its residents.

Loyal is a likeable character who carries her own demons. She is robbed of the opportunity to ask for Cutter’s forgiveness for the damage she inflicted on their friendship and is determined to find out what happened to her in order to make amends.

My heart however was with Sasha, a character who breaks the mould. Despite heartache and sadness, Sasha finds a way to exist in Jacknife without apology and shows great dignity. I so desperately wanted him to find some happiness.

I thought it was outstanding, I can’t recommend it enough.

Our Last Days is a haunting, emotive and atmospheric read. Bailey's prose is mesmerising and I felt myself transported to the swamps of Louisiana, a truly visceral experience. It's a slow burn, and Bailey takes their time to build rich, layered and vibrant characters, and positions readers within the chaos and conflict of the town of Jackknife. The central mystery is compelling and twisty, driven by these intense characters and lush, steamy backwater setting.

This is my first of Bailey's books, and I look forward to picking up others. Perfect for anyone looking for an intense, slow burn, dark and character driven mystery.

Thank you Random House UK for this ARC. Opinions expressed are my own.

An atmospheric small town tale, Our Last Wild Days follows Loyal who comes back to her childhood home when her family needs support. Soon after arriving back, she has a mystery to solve that will mean her delving into the darkness under the facade of the community she thought she knew.

Beautifully written with some richly developed characters, I highly recommend this as a slow-burning, gritty mystery.

I was entranced by Tall Bones, Anna Bailey’s first novel, and couldn’t wait to read Our Last Wild Days. It certainly didn’t disappoint.
Anna is so brilliant at evoking a sense of place and Jackknife is vividly brought to life. Surrounded by alligator swamps, it’s a small town largely dependent on the local plastics factory for work, with all the health issues that brings. The Labasques are outcasts, even in such a rundown place - surviving on alligator kills and barely making ends meet.
Loyal May was once the best friend of Cutter Labasque but they fell out and Loyal wrote a vicious article about the family for the local paper before she left the area.
Now she’s back and hoping to build bridges, but finds she’s too late as Cutter is found dead in the swamp.
Loyal doesn’t believe it’s suicide and soon finds there are some very nasty secrets being kept by people in the town.
Brilliant characterisation, wonderful descriptions and a story that hooks you in - this book shows that Anna Bailey is in it for the long haul. Another sensational novel.

You know you’re in for a great read when you can’t stop thinking about a book after three short chapters. This happened to me with Our Last Wild Days. I read three short chapters before starting a different book for a buddy read, but I just wanted to come back to reading this one! I loved every page of this brilliant book.

The body of a young woman is found washed-up in the water and deemed a suicide by police, but our main character Loyal believes there is more to the story and the death of her old, estranged friend. A well-paced, atmospheric thriller, but also a story about poverty, violence, extremism, pollution, survival, outcasts, community, alligators, secrets and love.

The story line kept me on my toes and was multilayered. What I loved most about the book though was the beautiful prose. The writing immediately hooked me, with descriptions so rich you can almost feel the setting of the swamps and small town in Louisiana. Atmospheric, immersive and a total page turner for me. The characters were messy and real, they really got to me and had me emotionally invested.

I’m officially a fan. Off I go to buy Tall Bones!