There is a long tradition in times of adversity that we read mysteries to divert ourselves from the challenges of our daily lives. Back in the interwar period of the 1920’s & 30’s Agatha Christie became a legend. Taking readers into little towns and intercontinental trains to solve a variety of cunning murders.It’s a more complicated world, so maybe we need a darker, more nuanced voice. JP Pomare has a way of delivering, and right now when we can’t go anywhere, he’s crafted a thriller that will make you terrified of staying in any type of house share.That’s right, this week’s book club is J.P. Pomare’s new thriller The Last GuestsJP Pomare is the author of Call Me Evie, Tell Me Lies and In the Clearing. He has won the Ngaio Marsh award and is shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award this year so you don’t have to trust me that he’s good; he’s got the trophies to back it up.
As The Last Guests begins, a nondescript man enters a holiday accommodation in Auckland with bags full of electrical equipment. Hours later he leaves with empty suitcases. Another Peephole stream has gone live.On the other side of Auckland Cain and Lina are doing it tough. Cain hasn’t had much work since he was injured in combat and he wants Lina to put her family home up on WeStay - an online accommodation app. Lina’s not too sure though. All her childhood memories are in that home and who knows what terrors a guest could inflict on that nostalgia?Like I said, right when we can’t travel anyway, The Last Guests delivers a narrative that shows us the potential nightmare fuel our stays could become.Building on the growing world of surveillance we already live with, The Last Guests shows us a hidden world of voyeurs who tap into cameras to watch your most intimate moments.Our protagonist Lina has a secret and when she is caught in the web of Peephole, she is confronted with how easy it would be for her whole world to come crumbling down.The Last Guests mixes thriller, paranoia and just the right amount of mystery. We know what Lina has to hide but we don’t know enough about who is threatening her.The novel crafts building tension that erupts into an horrific climax… and that’s just the halfway point. We are then treated with a classic as Lina tries to repair the pieces of her life and make sense of what has happened to her.I was genuinely terrified and perplexed as I rocketed through The Last Guests. It’s a cliché to say it kept me guessing to the last turn, but there’s a reason why we return to clichés.What more can I say about a writer whose work hinges on the unknown? It sucks that we’re stuck between the same four walls for the foreseeable future but J.P. Pomare’s work promises to make you feel like you’ve run a mile on every page. Oh and trust me… it will also make you very thankful for the comfort and safety of your own home.Loved this review?You can hear the full audio for this and many more conversations from Final Draft. Just search for Final Draft 2ser on social media and wherever you get your podcasts. Get more books, writing and literary culture every week on the Final Draft Great Conversations podcast. Hear interviews with authors and discover your next favourite read!https://2ser.com/final-draft