"The Last Session"

There's so many things about mystery thrillers to love, beginning with the craving to dive deep down whatever rabbit hole puzzle the author has weaved within the narrative of the story you're currently reading. The suspense, the thrill, the mystery, and the downright shady characters, that are spinning their webs of lies trying to throw you off the trail only amplifies the excitement building. This intricate web of plot lines and oftentimes deviant character motivations, creates a storyline that invites readers to engage in an intellectual challenge of deduction and reasoning. Each twist and turn is crafted to encourage you to piece together clues that may seem irrelevant in the beginning, but later wind up revealing to be critically important in the grand scheme of things. In these types of tales, true intentions are generally concealed beneath layers of deceit and manipulation which creates a tension thick enough to cut with a knife. The thrill comes not only from uncovering the truth but also from the fear of what lies lurking beneath the surface. Each clue can lead to new questions, augmented suspicions, and the ability to keep you on the edge of your seat.

All of these themes and details can certainly be found in The Last Session, with its ebb and flow rhythm that will draw you deeper into the story while also trying to keep you at arms length. As you navigate through the story, you'll find yourself experiencing everything from heart pounding adrenaline rushes from sneaking around to shock from exposed secrets. The environment will draw you in with it's calming properties and then slowly over time evolve into chaos that will erupt from uncovered deceptions. The characters will have you intrigued with the mystery of their intentions and leave you wondering who you can trust, what's real, what's fake, and what's going to happen next. The characters grapple with ethical dilemmas and morally gray areas that will have you questioning your own beliefs about truth and morality while also begging you to reflect on the consequences of their choices and the actions that follow.

The Review

“The Last Session”, the most recent book by author Julia Bartz, is a psychological mystery thriller following the events that take place when a former child star actress unexplainably shows up at a psychiatric unit in New York. Social worker, Thea, once obsessed with the former actress tries to unravel the series of events that lead the actress to her current state of mind. Is this just a mental health crisis or is there something darker lurking beneath the surface? This was a fun read due to the quirky characters and plot line. There was a lot of mystery to try and piece together not only for the reader but for the characters themselves and it kept me on my toes through its entirety. There was a small bit towards the end that had me mixed up briefly but once I gathered my bearings and sorted everything out I was pretty satisfied with how everything ended. If you enjoy a puzzling psychological read then this one will satisfy your needs.

Finished Reading On:  March 16, 2025

Book Information

Author Name: Julia Bartz

Publisher Name: Atria / Emily Bestler Books

Published Date: April 1, 2025

Final Thoughts

   Have you read The Last Session? Drop a comment, a rating, and let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading! If you're interested in purchasing this book for yourself, feel free to check out the link below.

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