The Last by Hanna Jameson

Historian Jon Keller is on a business trip to Switzerland when the world ends. He finds himself in the remote L’Hotel Sixieme when nuclear bombs begin falling all around the world. Two months later, he and twenty-odd survivors who have stayed put are still living in the hotel when the body of a young girl is found in one of the hotel’s rooftop water tanks. Keller now faces the possibility that he may be trapped with a killer.

The Last by Hanna Jameson is a haunting and tension-filled novel about what it might be like to survive the end of the world. Trapped far from home with a group of strangers, not knowing if there is a way home or even a home for you to return to. Keller turns all his attention to solving the mystery of the murdered girl. Armed with a set of master keys, he searches throughout the large hotel for clues.

The mixture of guests and staff who have remained are an eclectic mix of nationalities, professions and political persuasions. Even in the midst of questions about basic survival, the remaining guests and staff nurse grievances, form alliances and bicker. The question of who murdered the girl is inconsequential to some but becomes an obsession for Keller. Keller most closely associates with Tomi, a young American woman who is in many ways his opposite, particularly in politics. He finds himself drawn to her and respects her adaptability to the world they find themselves in. “We’re playing catch-up, dealing with the new world that has been thrust upon us. Tomi has become it.”

The story is told through Keller’s journal entries. This contributes to the excellent pacing that propels the story forward. Filled with tension, the story asks important questions. Who are you when the normal rules of civilization can’t be counted on anymore? Is even what happened to a murdered girl important when much of the world is lost? The Last is a compelling novel that is difficult to put down once you start. Fans of thoughtful post-apocalyptic stories and drama will love this book. Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

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