The Last Thing He Told Me

Don’t miss the #1 New York Times bestselling blockbuster and Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick that’s sold 3 million copies strong—now an Apple TV+ limited series starring Jennifer Garner! The “page-turning, exhilarating” (PopSugar) and “heartfelt thriller” (Real Simple) about a woman who thinks she’s found the love of her life—until he disappears. 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 “page-turning, exhilarating, and unforgettable” (PopSugar) suspense novel.

From the author of the "wrenching and exhilarating" All Things Cease to Appear comes a gripping literary thriller about a man reckoning with the mysterious death of his former roommate (Wall Street Journal). Julian Ladd and Rye Adler cross paths as photography students in the exclusive Brodsky Workshop. When Rye needs a roommate, Julian moves in, and a quiet, compulsive envy takes root, assuring, at least in his own mind, that he will never achieve Rye’s certain success. Both men are fascinated with their beautiful and talented classmate, Magda, whose captivating images of her Polish neighborhood set her apart, and each will come to know her intimately – a woman neither can possess and only one can love. Twenty years later, long after their paths diverge, Rye is at the top of his field, famous for his photographs of celebrities and far removed from the downtrodden and disenfranchised subjects who’d secured his reputation as the eye of his generation. When Magda reenters his life, asking for help only he can give, Rye finds himself in a broken landscape of street people and addicts, forcing him to reckon with the artist he once was, until his search for a missing boy becomes his own desperate fight to survive. Months later, when Julian discovers Rye’s obituary, the paper makes it sound like a suicide. Despite himself, Julian attends the funeral, where there is no casket and no body. This sudden reentry into a world he thought he left behind forces Julian to question not only Rye’s death, but the very foundations of his life. In this eerie and evocative novel, Elizabeth Brundage establishes herself as one of the premiere authors of literary fiction at work today.

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME? Heralded as “impossible to put down” (Elle), and named a Best Book of the Summer by Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, and Us Weekly, Eight Hundred Grapes is a heartbreaking, funny, and deeply evocative novel about love, marriage, family, wine, and the treacherous terrain in which they all intersect. There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide… What if your beloved fiancé, he of the crinkly smile and irresistible British accent, had kept a life-changing secret from you? And what if, just a week before your dream wedding, you discovered it? Georgia Ford, bride-to-be, hops in her car and drives through the night, from Los Angeles to Sonoma, to her safe haven: her family, and the acclaimed family winery. Georgia craves the company of those who know her best, and whom she truly knows. Better yet, it’s the eve of the last harvest—the best time of the growing season, and Georgia knows she’ll find solace—and distraction—in the familiar rituals. But when Georgia arrives home, nothing is at all familiar. Her parents, her brothers, the family business, are all unrecognizable. It seems her fiancé isn’t the only one who’s been keeping secrets… Eight Hundred Grapes is a story about the messy realities of family, the strength (and weaknesses) of romantic love, and the importance of finding a place to call home. “This winning tale will both satisfy on a literary level and encourage oenophiles to pour themselves a glass of a recent vintage to enjoy while reading; it’s a tasty treat for wine lovers and teetotalers alike” (Publishers Weekly). You won’t be able to put this “addictive” (Us Weekly) novel down.

Even the deepest-buried secrets can find their way to the surface... Moments before she dies, Nicola's grandmother Betty whispers to her that there are babies at the bottom of the garden. Nicola's mother claims she was talking nonsense. However, when Nicola's daughter finds a bone while playing in Betty's garden, it's clear that something sinister has taken place. But will unearthing painful family secrets end up tearing Nicola's family apart? 'A chiller with a puzzling mystery that manages to be a tearjerker too. Prepare for sleepless nights' Grazia 'A thought-provoking page turner' Jane Corry, author of The Dead Ex _____________________________________ What readers are saying about the unmissable Richard & Judy pick: 'A heartbreaking story about loss and love' 'Fast-paced with in-depth characters and spooky surroundings, it ticked all my boxes' 'I sobbed my heart out. I'll definitely be looking out for more from this author' 'Dark, intriguing and heart-breaking. First book I've read by this author but certainly won't be the last' 'I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book' 'Beautifully written, deeply moving and highly recommended!' 'A heart-breaking story of secrets, loss and regret' 'A great tense read! Full of gripping moments and twists and turns'

"A fresh, funny take on the search for a soulmate." —People A savvy, page-turning novel about a woman torn between her husband and the man she thought she'd marry by the author of the New York Times Bestseller and Reese's Book Club Pick, The Last Thing He Told Me Annie Adams is days away from her thirty-second birthday and thinks she has finally found some happiness. She visits the world's most interesting places for her syndicated travel column and she's happily cohabiting with her movie director boyfriend Nick in Los Angeles. But when Nick comes home from a meeting with his therapist (aka "futures counselor") and announces that he's taking a break from their relationship so he can pursue a woman from his past, the place Annie had come to call home is shattered. Reeling, Annie stumbles into her neighborhood bar and finds Griffin-a grounded, charming chef who seems to be everything Annie didn't know she was looking for. Within three months, Griffin is Annie's husband and Annie finds herself trying to restart her life in rural Massachusetts. A wry observer of modern love, Laura Dave "steers clear of easy answers to explore the romantic choices we make" (USA Today). Her third novel is packed with humor, empathy, and psychological insight about the power of love and home.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A legal thriller that’s comparable to classics such as Scott Turow’s Presumed Innocent . . . tragic and shocking.”—Associated Press NOW AN EMMY-NOMINATED ORIGINAL STREAMING SERIES • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Entertainment Weekly • Boston Globe • Kansas City Star Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney for two decades. He is respected. Admired in the courtroom. Happy at home with the loves of his life: his wife, Laurie, and their teenage son, Jacob. Then Andy’s quiet suburb is stunned by a shocking crime: a young boy stabbed to death in a leafy park. And an even greater shock: The accused is Andy’s own son—shy, awkward, mysterious Jacob. Andy believes in Jacob’s innocence. Any parent would. But the pressure mounts. Damning evidence. Doubt. A faltering marriage. The neighbors’ contempt. A murder trial that threatens to obliterate Andy’s family. It is the ultimate test for any parent: How far would you go to protect your child? It is a test of devotion. A test of how well a parent can know a child. For Andy Barber, a man with an iron will and a dark secret, it is a test of guilt and innocence in the deepest sense. How far would you go? Praise for Defending Jacob “A novel like this comes along maybe once a decade . . . a tour de force, a full-blooded legal thriller about a murder trial and the way it shatters a family. With its relentless suspense, its mesmerizing prose, and a shocking twist at the end, it’s every bit as good as Scott Turow’s great Presumed Innocent. But it’s also something more: an indelible domestic drama that calls to mind Ordinary People and We Need to Talk About Kevin. A spellbinding and unforgettable literary crime novel.”—Joseph Finder “Defending Jacob is smart, sophisticated, and suspenseful—capturing both the complexity and stunning fragility of family life.”—Lee Child “Powerful . . . leaves you gasping breathlessly at each shocking revelation.”—Lisa Gardner “Disturbing, complex, and gripping, Defending Jacob is impossible to put down. William Landay is a stunning talent.”—Carla Neggers “Riveting, suspenseful, and emotionally searing.”—Linwood Barclay

The women who spent their childhood summers in a small southern town discover it harbors secrets as lush as the marshes that surround it... Bonny Blankenship’s most treasured memories are of idyllic summers spent in Watersend, South Carolina, with her best friend, Lainey McKay. Amid the sand dunes and oak trees draped with Spanish moss, they swam and wished for happy-ever-afters, then escaped to the local bookshop to read and whisper in the glorious cool silence. Until the night that changed everything, the night that Lainey’s mother disappeared. Now, in her early fifties, Bonny is desperate to clear her head after a tragic mistake threatens her career as an emergency room doctor, and her marriage crumbles around her. With her troubled teenage daughter, Piper, in tow, she goes back to the beloved river house, where she is soon joined by Lainey and her two young children. During lazy summer days and magical nights, they reunite with bookshop owner Mimi, who is tangled with the past and its mysteries. As the three women cling to a fragile peace, buried secrets and long ago loves return like the tide. READERS GUIDE INSIDE

The first novel in over a decade from perhaps the most admired writer in America.

Description The "page-turning, exciting" and "heartfelt thriller" (Real Simple) about a lady who believes she has found the love of her life, only to have him mysteriously vanish. Before he vanishes, Owen Michaels slips a message to his wife of a year, urging her to be safe. Hannah Hall is confused and scared, but she knows who the note is meant for: Owen's sixteen-year-old daughter Bailey. Young Bailey lost her mother to cancer. Without a doubt, Bailey despises her new stepmother. It doesn't take long for Hannah to understand that her husband, Owen, isn't who he claimed to be when her increasingly urgent phone calls to him go unanswered and the FBI arrests Owen's boss and an unexpected US marshal and federal agents show up at their Sausalito house. And it's possible that Bailey is the one who can shed light on who Owen truly is and why he vanished. It was decided that Hannah and Bailey would investigate the matter further. Nevertheless, as they begin to piece together Owen's history, they discover that they are also creating a new future--one that neither of them could have imagined before. The Last Thing He Told Me is a "page-turning, exciting, and unforgettable" (PopSugar) thriller because of its rapid-fire pacing, dizzying plot twists, and vivid family drama.

Summary of The Last Thing He Told Me - A Comprehensive Summary Thе оnе-раrаgrарh vеrѕіоn: Hаnnаh fіndѕ оut оnе dау thаt her husband Owеn hаѕ run away. Thе соmраnу hе wоrkѕ fоr hаѕ bееn іndісtеd fоr vаrіоuѕ whіtе collar сrіmеѕ, lеаvіng hеr аlоnе with hеr high school stepdaughter Bаіlеу who hates her. Aѕ Hаnnаh аnd Bаіlеу іnvеѕtіgаtе, they lеаrn thаt Owеn hаd a рrеvіоuѕ lіfе hе wаѕ running frоm, whеrе Owеn'ѕ father-in-law Nісhоlаѕ hаd bееn a lаwуеr fоr a Crime Sуndісаtе аnd where he and Bailey had dіffеrеnt names аnd lіvеd in Auѕtіn. Before the end, Hannah brоkеrѕ a dеаl wіth Nісhоlаѕ fоr hеr аnd Bailey to bе ѕаfе frоm thе ѕуndісаtе, еvеn if іt mеаnѕ Owen can't be in thеіr lіvеѕ. It'ѕ what Owеn wоuld hаvе wаntеd, аnd it brings Hаnnаh and Bailey сlоѕеr. Pаrt I ореnѕ with Hаnnаh lеаrnіng thаt Owen, hеr husband, hаѕ lеft that day when thе соmраnу hе wоrkѕ fоr, The Shор, іѕ bеіng closed аѕ раrt оf аn FBI and SEC іnvеѕtіgаtіоn into frаud аnd theft charges. The CEO, Avеtt, hаѕ bееn аrrеѕtеd, and other hіgh-lеvеl representatives ѕuсh аѕ Owen аrе еxресtеd tо bе arraigned аѕ wеll. Bаіlеу, Owen's 16-year-old dаughtеr аnd Hаnnаh'ѕ stepdaughter discovers a duffle bag fіllеd wіth саѕh thаt Owеn left іn hеr ѕсhооl locker. In a ѕеrіеѕ оf flаѕhbасkѕ, wе discover that Hаnnаh аnd Owen mеt around twо уеаrѕ аgо through Avett, whо was a customer оf her interior dеѕіgn аnd woodturning business. She mоvеd tо thе Bay Arеа to be wіth hіm аnd has trіеd unѕuссеѕѕfullу to fоrm a relationship with Bаіlеу. Aѕ Hаnnаh trіеѕ to learn whаt hаѕ hарреnеd, Hаnnаh соntасtѕ her ex fіаnсé Jаkе tо ѕеrvе as her аttоrnеу. Sооn, Grаdу Bradford, a U.S. Mаrѕhаll shows uр at her dооr searching for Owеn. Lаtеr, twо FBI specialists appear as wеll. Hоwеvеr, Grady ѕееmѕ tо bе wоrkіng ѕераrаtеlу from thе FBI, and Hаnnаh fіndѕ it оdd thаt Grаdу іѕ based оut оf the U.S. Mаrѕhаll'ѕ оffісе іn Auѕtіn, Tеxаѕ. Also, аѕ Hannah reviews hеr discussions wіth Owen, іt bесоmеѕ сlеаr that hе appeared to hаvе ѕоmе association tо thе сіtу of Auѕtіn аnd Bаіlеу vаguеlу rесаllѕ being there оnсе whеn ѕhе was vеrу уоung. In Part II, Hannah and Bаіlеу head tо Auѕtіn tо trу tо undеrѕtаnd Owеn'ѕ соnnесtіоn tо thе сіtу. Bailey rеmеmbеrѕ аttеndіng a wеddіng in Auѕtіn, and thеу find the nаmе оf a Prоfеѕѕоr Tоbіаѕ Cооkmаn that Owen used to tаlk аbоut, whо turnѕ оut tо bе an UT Auѕtіn arithmetic рrоfеѕѕоr. Tоbіаѕ'ѕ help leads thеm tо a уеаrbооk whеrе thеу fіnd a рhоtо оf thе lady Bаіlеу recalls аѕ her mоthеr, Olivia, еxсерt her name is lіѕtеd as Kаthеrіnе Smіth. To be continued... Here is a Preview of What You Will Get: ⁃ A Full Book Summary ⁃ An Analysis ⁃ Fun quizzes ⁃ Quiz Answers ⁃ Etc Get a copy of this summary and learn about the book.