The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

From the author of the acclaimed In My Dreams I Hold a Knife comes a pitch-black thriller about a woman determined to destroy a powerful cult and avenge the deaths of the women taken in by it, no matter the cost.

While in college in upstate New York, Shay Evans and her best friends met a captivating man who seduced them with a web of lies about the way the world works, bringing them under his thrall. By senior year, Shay and her friend Laurel were the only ones who managed to escape. Now, eight years later, Shay’s built a new life in a tiny Texas suburb. But when she hears the horrifying news of Laurel’s death—delivered, of all ways, by her favorite true-crime podcast crusader—she begins to suspect that the past she thought she buried is still very much alive, and the predators more dangerous than ever.

Recruiting the help of the podcast host, Shay goes back to the place she vowed never to return to in search of answers. As she follows the threads of her friend’s life, she’s pulled into a dark, seductive world, where wealth and privilege shield brutal philosophies that feel all too familiar. When Shay’s obsession with uncovering the truth becomes so consuming she can no longer separate her desire for justice from darker desires newly reawakened, she must confront the depths of her own complicity and conditioning. But in a world built for men to rule it—both inside the cult and outside of it—is justice even possible, and if so, how far will Shay go to get it?

Published by Sourcebooks Landmark
on August 16, 2022

Review:

I’d heard so much buzz about this book last year that I was almost afraid to pick it up. In a way, I’m happy I waited as long as I did before I read it. By the time I got around to it, the buzz had worn off, and I went into it without my expectations being super high. Cults fascinate me, and I didn’t realize that this book was centered around one. It reminded me a bit of the NXIVM cult. (If you’re not familiar with it, watch “The Vow” on HBO – so crazy!)

The story unravels mostly from the first-person point of view of Shay Evans (now DeRoy), our protagonist, who is living a cushy life in suburban Dallas with her wealthy husband. Shay is a writer looking for inspiration for a book when, one day, she listens to a podcast episode that focuses on the death of a woman named Laurel – her best friend from college. Shay had no idea that Laurel had died. Her death was ruled a suicide, but Shay struggles with this. Laurel was always shy and meek, and Shay refuses to believe she would have killed herself. What’s odd is Laurel’s death is very similar to that of another one of their college friends who allegedly committed suicide their senior year. To top it off, one of Shay’s best friends from high school is the host of the podcast, so she feels she has an in, and maybe she can help figure out what really happened. But, in order to do so, Shay is going to have to come clean about her past and the trauma she and her roommates suffered (Laurel included) at the hands of an enigmatic cult leader while in college.

Winstead’s narrative unfolds with an intensity that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. The author expertly weaves together the complex layers of Shay’s past and present, drawing us into a maze of secrets and lies that threaten to consume her. As Shay navigates the twisted world she once escaped, she is forced to confront the harsh realities of her involvement with the cult, making for a compelling and thought-provoking read. What also worked really well was the format. I liked that we got Shay’s first-person perspective, and then interspersed with the narrative were transcripts of interviews she did for the podcast as she slowly told her truth.

The characters are all exceptional. Shay is a brilliantly crafted protagonist, her strength and vulnerability balancing each other out in a relatable way. As she delves deeper into the shadows of her past, her transformation is palpable, and readers will find themselves caught up in her troubled life. She makes some dangerous and questionable decisions, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I might have done the same – especially had I experienced the things she did when she was younger.

One of the most striking aspects of the novel is its exploration of gender dynamics and the ways in which women are conditioned to conform to societal expectations. Through Shay’s eyes, we see the insidious influence of toxic masculinity and the devastating consequences it can have. Winstead’s sharp observations on privilege, power, and control add an extra layer of depth to an already compelling narrative. There were times when I grew really uncomfortable with some of the things Shay and her friends experienced, but that’s what makes the book so hard to put down. It’s also what makes the surprise ending so delicious.

Overall, I found this to be a page-turning thriller that carries a hefty punch. It’ll make you want to throw the book across the room while simultaneously making you want to keep reading. This is a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. If you love thrillers and revenge tales that come with a side of fun twists (both expected and unexpected), I urge you to check this one out.