THE LAST THING TO BURN by WILL DEAN

My Rating: ★★★★★

Her husband calls her Jane. But that is not her name and she is his captive.

She lives in a small farm cottage, surrounded by vast, open fields. Everywhere she looks, there is space. But she is trapped. No one knows how she got to the UK: no one knows she is there. Visitors rarely come to the farm; if they do, she is never seen.

Her husband records her every movement during the day. If he doesn't like what he sees, she is punished.

For a long time, escape seemed impossible. But now, something has changed. She has a reason to live and a reason to fight. Now, she is watching him, and waiting for a chance to escape from him.

Oh my goodness! This book is so amazingly written. I felt like I was right there watching it all happen in front of my eyes.

This is a truly powerful story of a Vietnamese immigrant, Thanh Dao, who along with her sister had illegally entered into the UK with a hope for better future.

But once in UK, she is sold to Lenn who hold her captive. He has taken everything away from her including her name and identity. She has few of her possessions which are her only reminder and connection she has to her family, but Lenn systematically destroys one of them each time she defines any of his rules or orders.

Lenn also keeps on threatening of ensuring her sister being deported but informing the authorities, so as to make sure that she will not try to escape and will always stay, cook for him and never do anything that would upset him.

Reading of the emotional and physical abuse that Jane had to face was really agonizing, but at the same time I was able to appreciate and admire her love towards her sister and the extent she would go endure any torture so as to ensure that her sister is safe and has a better life.

Through Jane’s story, the author has been able to highlight and cover a very delicate but important issue of human trafficking that exists in the society in detailed and empathic manner.

Overall, an excellent book which will be on my mind for a very long time!

Thank You NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!