Synopsis
When Brooke was kidnapped on her way home from work, she thought her life was over.
That was ten years ago.
She’s been held captive in an isolated cabin on the Oregon coast ever since, scrambling to follow her kidnappers’ twisted instructions to the letter. Because the price of a mistake is death.
But when a new victim shows up, everything changes. Including the rules. And this time, the only way to survive is to break them.
Review
A huge thank you to Ticking Clock Press and NetGalley for the eARC!
Steph Nelson has easily become a constant presence on my reading lists following her debut novel last year, The Vein, and her novella, Sawtooth. While both works fall under the horror category, her latest, The Final Scene, ventures into thriller territory where every horrifying facet is grounded in bleak reality. Brooke was kidnapped ten years ago and brought to a secluded cabin in the Oregon wilderness where she is made to follow some rather odd instructions: she must play the part demanded by her demented captor alongside other “cast members.” Of course, the arrival of a new cast member marks a departure from the “normal” life Brooke has been living, one that marks the possible beginning of the end.
If you’ve read my reviews of Nelson’s work before, then you probably know just how enjoyable I find her writing, especially through her strong sense of characterization. Similar to The Vein, The Final Scene deals with a wider set of characters, something Nelson writes markedly well. Especially in the landscape of the thriller where tensions are high, and the stakes higher, nailing the human, believable side of fictional beings is key. Without caring for these people, the sense of suspense and danger is immediately lost, something Nelson’s writing does not suffer from. Nothing about any of the “cast members” in this cabin is simple with everyone having a complicated, rich backstory. Nothing about this story felt flat or static as key parts of each character’s jaded past reveal themselves.
Perhaps the best way to describe these characters is through their undeniable sense of personality. Brooke’s time in captivity has certainly jaded her in addition to the struggles she faced before this unthinkable crime occurred. Her voice is notably clear as a strong-willed, tough woman who questions her levels of sensitivity and the effects of what she’s experienced. As we see her interact with various cast members, her depth is exposed, and eventually, we observe a rather interesting character arc, one that had me pumping my fist and squealing with joy. Female empowerment is another specialty of Nelson’s writing, something I quite frankly will never get enough of.
Also, dare I say this book is wildly fun? Of course, saying so feels a tad wrong given all the suffering, death, and mistreatment that goes on, but Nelson takes us on a ride. Within pages, the pace is set at a rather fast speed, one that doesn’t particularly slow down. In fact, several scenes left me thinking, “Oh, we’re going there.” Especially in the genre of the thriller, there’s something to be said for this breakneck speed, and Nelson does not pull any punches here. This story thrives on a sense of originality in its plot structure only to be fortified by strong characters and their struggle to survive an impossible situation. While most thrillers fall into the common pitfalls of unoriginality and staleness, The Final Scene is a breath of fresh air.
The Final Scene by Steph Nelson releases on February 27, 2024 from Ticking Clock Press.
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