The Last Caretaker

A Novel

By: Jessica Strawser

Narrated by: Reba Buhr

An instant USA Today bestseller.

A woman in search of a new beginning is put to the test in ways she never imagined in an empowering and provocative page-turner by the author of Not That I Could Tell.

Katie’s divorce was, in a word, humiliating. So when her friend Bess offers a fresh start—a resident caretaking job at a nature preserve—Katie accepts. No matter that she’s not exactly a “nature person.” How hard can it be?

But from day one, something feels off. Katie’s new farmhouse looks as if the last caretaker barely moved out at all. When a frantic, terrified woman arrives late at night, expecting a safe place to hide, it’s clear caretaking involves way more than Katie bargained for.

Suddenly, Katie is no longer sure who she can trust: the brooding groundskeeper, the daily regulars—hikers, dog walkers, bird-watchers, photographers—even Bess.

As Katie digs deeper for clues in what the last caretaker left behind, she must discover courage she never knew she had—and decide how much she’ll risk to do the right thing.

©2023 Jessica Strawser (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Of immense appeal and interest to fans of deftly crafted novels with the themes of family life intermixed with elements of suspense and apprehension, and unreservedly recommended…ably and effectively narrated by Reba Buhr.”—Midwest Book Review

“Strawser’s latest fast-paced page-turner (following The Next Thing You Know) grabs readers at the start and doesn’t let go. For fans of Sally Hepworth and Liane Moriarty.”—Library Journal

“Strawser presents a fresh premise and compelling plot. The twists are unexpected, and Katie is pulled along through the adventure until she finds the courage to stand up for herself.”—Booklist

𝚂𝚘𝚘𝚘𝚘𝚘 𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝙻𝚘𝚘𝚘𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚐

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚍... 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙾𝙼𝙶 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚛𝚊 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛'𝚜 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚙𝚎𝚍 𝚒 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚍𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚋𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚠𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚝. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚘𝚔, 𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 𝚗𝚘 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝚌𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚏 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜

Exceptional characters and true friendship

An amazing story to show how life is messy, but you can always do the right thing. When you lean on friends and connect with what matters most.

The story itself

three narrators 'kids' voice was painful to listen to otherwise easy to listen to and follow.

Chalk full of twists and turns

The story line was fascinating. The shear mystery and the convoluted way it unfolds is brilliant 👏

Circumstances

Too much second - guessing drags the story pace __zzzzzzzzzz zz zz zzzzz zzz zzz zzzz zzzzz zzzzzz

Twists and turns galore!

The characters were quirky but likable. The plot was captivating. I didn’t want to stop listening when real life so rudely interrupted!

From a girl refinding herself post divorce

This book is a good compilation of post divorce developments meets thriller mystery of a force of badass woman doing good for other woman.

Twists & Turns

Being from the area, I liked that the story featured Cincinnati Nature Center. The author did a fine job of character development, showing a fearful & desperate woman at the beginning of the story who transformed to a courageous & empowered caretaker by the end.

Anticipation

This was a fairly good read, keeping my interest around the next corner. Descriptiveness was good, allowing me to create a visual in my mind.
There was a a lot of build up but more story line around each corner, and I kept waiting for more drama throughout.

Good read

Enjoyed ending. Story moved along. Recommend. Great book club read. Didn't like kids voices. overall 5 stzrs.