This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Laura Bambrey
There are two words that sum up Cesca Major’s The Last Night. Hotly. Anticipated. Her debut, The Silent Hours, left me with the book hangover of 2015, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her second book.
The Last Night follows the story of Irina. Quiet, self-contained and harbouring a dark secret, she keeps herself distanced from everyone, including her mother. Irina immerses herself in her work as a furniture restorer, using it as a shield against the world. When a new commission arrives and turns her careful existence on its head, Irina is taken on a journey of discovery as she slowly unearths the layers of history surrounding the item – and the personal and harrowing story it has hidden in its depths.
Back in the 1950s, Abigail’s life also changes overnight. Moving from Bristol to a small Devonshire village, she’s soon keeping her own secrets – both good, and devastatingly bad.
The Last Night is a gripping and powerful read, with a harrowing real-life tragedy at its core. Cesca Major’s superpower is that she can take a little-known historical event and breathe colour and life into it for her readers – often to heartbreaking effect. Every detail is exquisitely drawn, and the characters are so real they could be taken directly from your own friends, family and community. In fact – that’s exactly what they feel like by the end of the novel.
I loved the paranormal element to the story, which subtly adds to the sense of foreboding. As these instances grew stronger and more frequent, I found myself questioning the mental state of the character involved – was this paranormal activity, or was the character starting to crack under the strain of her secrets?
There are so many layers to this brilliant book and despite its disturbing nature, The Last Night is a very satisfying read. Both the characters and events will continue to haunt you long after you’ve turned the final page.
9/10
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