Title: The Last Thing He Told Me
Author: Laura Dave
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Domestic Fiction
Year of Publication: 2021
Date of Publication: May 4, 2021
Pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9781501171345
Audiobook Narrator: Rebecca Lowman
Summary of The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
The Last Thing He Told Me follows the story of Hannah Hall, whose life changes dramatically when her husband, Owen, suddenly disappears, leaving behind only a cryptic note: “Protect her.” With little information and few clues, Hannah becomes the guardian of her teenage stepdaughter, Bailey, as the two attempt to uncover the truth about Owen’s past.
“Protect her.”
As Hannah and Bailey try to figure out how they have ended in the situation they are, they discover secrets that reveal Owen was not who he appeared to be, and his disappearance might be part of a larger, more dangerous conspiracy. Their journey tests Hannah’s patience and trust, and she must decide how far she is willing to go to keep Bailey safe.
Main Plot & Characters
- Hannah Hall – The novel’s first‑person narrator and protagonist. She is a woodworker in her early 40s, newly married to Owen Michaels and stepmother to his teen daughter Bailey. When Owen vanishes, Hannah takes charge of unraveling his secrets and protecting Bailey.
- Bailey Michaels (real name: Kristin Young) – Owen’s 16‑year‑old daughter from a previous marriage. Moody, artistic (loves theater and sports), she initially resists Hannah but becomes her partner in uncovering Owen’s past.
- Owen Michaels (real name: Ethan Young) – Former husband of Hannah and father to Bailey. He disappears just as his tech firm is raided. The story unfolds through flashbacks and clues he left behind. He’s calm, devoted, and fiercely protective of Bailey.
- Jules – Hannah’s best friend and a journalist (works for the San Francisco Chronicle). Loyal and resourceful, Jules becomes one of Hannah’s greatest allies.
- Grady Bradford – A U.S. Marshal assigned to the case, operating somewhere between helper and ambiguous figure. He warns Hannah that Owen isn’t who she thought.
- Jake Anderson/Davis – Hannah’s ex-fiancé and a lawyer based in New York. Intelligent and blunt, he provides legal and investigative assistance.
- Nicholas Bell – Owen’s former father‑in‑law (Bailey’s grandfather), a lawyer connected to a powerful crime syndicate. He becomes a source of menace.
- Avett Thompson – CEO of Owen’s company, The Shop, who gets arrested during the fraud investigation.
- Belle Thompson – Avett’s glamorous wife and one of Hannah’s professional clients.
- Dr. Tobias Cookman – Owen’s former math professor in Austin. Gruff but helpful in piecing together Owen’s past.
- Charlie Smith – Owner of the “Never Dry” bar and Bailey’s uncle (Kate’s brother). Temperamental but ultimately insightful.
- Carl Conrad & Patricia “Patty” Conrad – Friends of Owen’s who bring additional tension and drama; Carl is unfaithful, and Patty suspects misdeeds.
- Eleanor – Secretary at the Episcopal church in Austin who helps Hannah and Bailey during their search.
- Katherine Smith/Olivia Michaels – Owen’s first wife and Bailey’s biological mother. Deceased, her murder triggered the family’s new identities and the novel’s mystery
Writing Style
Laura Dave writes the story using a lot of suspense. It is an emotionally charged novel and as a reader you may find yourself trying to figure out just where this story is going and how far the secrets Owen was hiding go.
Memorable Quotes
- “This is the thing about good and evil. They aren’t so far apart – and they often start from the same valiant place of wanting something to be different.”
- “Watching my grandfather work taught me that not everything was fluid. There were certain things you hit from different angles, but you never gave up on. You did the work that was needed, wherever that work took you.”
- “We forget all sorts of things that no one helps us remember.”
- “He never understood that I wasn’t scared of someone leaving me, I was scared that the wrong person would stay.”
- “It wasn’t just about shaping a block of wood into what you wanted it to be. That it was also a peeling back, to seeing what was inside the wood, what the wood had been before. It was the first step to creating something beautiful. It was the first step to making something out of nothing.”
- “The week after Owen disappeared, I had a dream of him standing in that parking lot.…‘Look, Hannah, he said. Now you’ve lost me too.’”
Final Thoughts on The Last Thing He Told Me
This novel makes readers reflect on trust and what it means to build a family. It’s one of those books that if you enjoy suspense and piecing things together or trying to connect the dot, then you will enjoy.
Have you read The Last Thing He Told Me? What are your thoughts on this book? Have you had a chance to read it? Let us know in the comments!
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