The Last To know By Jo Furniss

‘The Last To know’ is the latest book by Jo Furniss.

American journalist Rose Kynaston has just relocated to the childhood home of her husband, Dylan, in the English village of his youth. There’s a lot for Rose to get used to in Hurtwood. Like the family’s crumbling mansion, inhabited by Dylan’s reclusive mother, and the treacherous hill it sits upon, a place of both sinister folklore and present dangers. Then there are the unwelcoming villagers, who only whisper the name Kynaston—like some dreadful secret, a curse. Everyone knows what happened at Hurtwood House twenty years ago. Everyone except Rose. And now that Dylan is back, so are rumors about his past.When an archaeological dig unearths human remains on the hill, local police sergeant Ellie Trevelyan vows to solve a cold case that has cast a chill over Hurtwood for decades. As Ellie works to separate rumor from fact, Rose must fight to clear the name of the man she loves. But how can Rose keep her family safe if she is the last to know the truth?

This book is a story of mystery and drama as a police woman and a newcomer to the village set to solve an age old mystery.

Rosie moves to the village with her his husband Dylan and their little boy called Aled. But it seems that Dylan and his family are hated as the family name was associated with the death of a boy, although this was never proven.

Rosie is American and is trying to settle into the slower life, whilst trying to continue with her documentary making career, look after her little boy as well as Dylan’s mother called Gwendoline who’s showing signs of dementia.

The story is seen from the narrative of Rosie plus a local policewoman called Ellie who’s father also has dementia. The small police station where she works at is closing it’s premises and she’s unable to travel to a further police station as she’s her fathers carer, so when human remains are discovered during Rosie’s documentary, this will be her last job.

The story is an eerie one, set in a rambling old house filled with hidden nooks and crannies and the characters are unreliable and unlikable. I didn’t particularly like Dylan, Rosie’s husband. He’s narrow minded and traditional in views that women don’t need to work.

The dual narratives give an interesting slant to the story, as Rosie adjusts to the new life as well as wonder what she has committed to. As well as the main mystery of the story, there is also the inclusion of local ghost stories that I enjoyed as well.

A suspenseful story about town gossip, family secrets and hidden lies, ‘The Last To Know’ is a well crafted and atmospheric story that hooks the reader in with the vivid descriptions, strong storyline and compelling dialogue.

You can buy ‘The Last To Know’ from Amazon.