Challenge Corner discussion

From the author of the “irresistible” (Paula Hawkin, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Where the Truth Lies, an atmospheric novel about a young woman who searches for answers after her estranged friend is found dead in the bayou of their rural Louisiana hometown.

The Labasques aren’t like other families.

Living in a shack out in the swamps, they made do by hunting down alligators and other animals. To the good people of Jacknife, Louisiana, they are troublemakers and outcasts, the kind of people you wouldn’t want in your community.

So, when Cutter Labasque is found face down in the muddy swamp, no one seems to care, not even her two brothers. The only person who questions the official verdict of suicide is Cutter’s childhood friend, Loyal May, who has just returned home to care for her mother. When she left town at eighteen years old, she betrayed Cutter. Now with a ragtag group from the local paper where she works, Loyal goes in search of answers, uncovering a web of deceit and corruption that implicates those in town. It may be too late to apologize to Cutter, but Loyal has restitution in mind.

Weaving through the swamps and bayous of rural Louisiana, Our Last Wild Days is an atmospheric, smoldering suspense about our darker impulses—and how to set things right.

I may join in on this one as well!

Me too!

YAY!! I hope you both do!!

woo woo! the more the merrier :)

hoping to get into this one today/tomorrow (likely tomorrow though)

Yes, I'm a bit behind too! plan to start tomorrow!

Me too! But hoping to start really soon!

10 chapters / 25%

at first I thought it was a slow start but now I'm sucked in! the description in the beginning felt like overkill but now its definitely set the mood and setting for this story

(view spoiler)[
I really like Loyal. I'm sad she lost a friend before she could make amends. I'm curious what really went down back then and why she wrote that article and she got bit by an alligator. . .

I like Sasha and I'm glad we're getting that POV as well - it gives the town local info and more of the current story.

and wow! Duwall sounds like a town menace and definitely a terrible brother. He's cruel to Beau - I don't think Beau even knows he could leave and go out on his own. But I don't think he did it - killed Cutter. He left her behind - so who did then?

and huh. Interesting that the sheriff is so quick to defend Cutter's honor. I wonder if they'd made amends since she bit his finger. hmmm. . . (hide spoiler)]

23 chapters / 55%

(view spoiler)[ wow, so another POV jumped in - Dan the sheriff. I'm not sure how I feel about him. I was starting to think he might be the father/lover to Marianne but now I'm not so sure. He doesn't seem to know what happened to her.

and wow, Beau - I really hope his sister wasn't killed because of his drug habit or them running drugs. There is so much mystery around this girl that I'd hate it just to be back about drugs

and Dewall. I really really want to believe he didn't hurt his sister (or is the father of the child). But I agree with Loyal and Sasha - I don't think it was the preacher's son either.

hmmmm (hide spoiler)]

34 chapters / 76%

(view spoiler)[ wow, this book is breaking my heart

Dewall and Sasha. I almost bawled when Sasha stood up and helped at the funeral. that was such a touching moment and I love that he helped - because he knew Loyal wouldn't want someone to not help.

and then the fight (with the police no less UGH) and Dewall helped him. and then. . .they had that moment. it makes sense, Dewall so beaten by his father and then unable to be with anyone and have an actual relationship. When we got that moment from Beau of Marianne bleeding and Dewall walking in - and him seeming to help her (not hurt her). He really seemed like he'd taken the weight of taking care of his siblings on himself.

but ugh, he is such an awful guy other times that it's so hard to root for Dewall but those moments with Sasha when he was kind - those were so touching.

but what is Beau going to do now? is he really going to kill that girl to help the drug dealers? and is that really what's happened? did Marianna/Cutter get caught up in something with the drugs and they killed her? (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

WOW this one was so good!!

(view spoiler)[ ugh, and all of that and it was Dan. what a horrible man he was - never grew up, just grew big.

I love that Sasha and Dewall were maybe seeing if something could be and that Dewall was learning a new way to be with his family. I love that he recognized he'd alienated the siblings instead of pulling them together

and wow, to be working on the house, finally out from under the drug dealer. I don't love that they got away with it but I can't say I hate it lol

and Loyal finally got to dig into helping her mom after she'd finally felt like she came through for her friend

and OH! How I loved it was the albino alligator that got Dan. True, beautiful justice - just like if Marianne had bit him again herself! I love how that came full circle and was what got him! (hide spoiler)]

I can't wait to see what you guys think!!

I'm excited to start this one! I need to make the time. Hoping to start it this week.

Brittni wrote: "I'm excited to start this one! I need to make the time. Hoping to start it this week."

Same, Brittni. I am hoping by mid-week I can start!

Up to ch 14
You were right Trisha beginning was a slow start with building the atmosphere and setting but thankfully didn’t leave me struggling to get through like some other books have done .
(view spoiler)[
I briefly read the blurb but was a bit sad to hear it was cutter who was the dead girl. Poor loyal (also interesting name) didn’t get to make amends. It is making me a bit annoyed she continues to refer to her as “friend” despite them not communicating for the past 10 years or so.

I’m also loving the mix of other POVs thrown in there too, it adds an extra layer or what they are thinking.

I couldn’t imagine being cutter and reading an article about my family and myself… what else was there to cutter removing. Loyal from her life? I’d like to think her brother wasn’t involved with any inappropriate sexual touching but who knows truthfully…

Also AT THE BEGINNING with cutter biting of the boys finger WILD but also hell yeah he wasn’t going to get away with that.

I’m invested in what the secrets are!! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "23 chapters / 55%

wow, so another POV jumped in ..."

(view spoiler)[ so many possibilities to keep track of!! Corrupt cops it sounds like in charge of the drug trafficking maybe? What’s going on with the animal masks? I feel like it has to be the ones apart of the drugs and maybe a possible cartel that’s making people afraid to go out at night likely because it’s when they are making deals the most.

Whoever the father of the child is must know who could have killed her? Also what was Dewall scrubbing off the floors? I’m thinking he had to of known about the pregnancy and helped her navigate it.

I really don’t know who would be behind her killing (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "34 chapters / 76%

wow, this book is breaking my heart"

(view spoiler)[ agreed!! the emotions this book brings out... ugh so freaking good. love how Sasha stood up with everyone else watching waiting for the gossip to spread later...

Dewall wants nothing but the best for his siblings, even though he doesn't show it properly

As much as I'd like to think Beau isn't going to kill the girl, his urges and cravings really has him considering the worst. especially with his sister gone.. (hide spoiler)]

finished last night! (view spoiler)[ wow wow what a ride with this one but I LOVED IT!!

I wasn't expecting the albino gator to make that come back but HECK YEAH it did... so sad to think it was Dan that killed Marianne (Cutter) I wasn't expecting that, I truly thought it was the drug dealer. almost weird how they (greenacre) didn't want to search for her killer since they were "lovers" but also makes sense

possibilities between Dewall and Sasha, but I doubt it'll ever be anything more with the amount of trauma that Dewall has gone through. Beau is getting the help he deserves and so clearly need *thank goodness)*

overall REALLY REALLY liked this story! (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 5: I am loving this start. One of my favorite tropes is when a main character returns to their hometown after a long period of time away. (view spoiler)[Bonus points that Loyal is a journalist. Excited to see who the body in the swamp turns out to be! (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 10: (view spoiler)[What the heck!? The whistle from the swamp and then someone whistle back!? That just gave me a chill. Hoping it's just a pair hunting some sort of game using signals, but I wouldn't be hanging around to find out. I also don't think Cutter killer herself, but the oldest brother as a suspect seems to easy. (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 12: oooo, there was (view spoiler)[a boyfriend? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "10 chapters / 25%

at first I thought it was a slow start but now I'm sucked in! the description in the beginning felt like overkill but now its definitely set the mood and setting for this story

..."

All things I am wondering about 12-Chapters in as well. (view spoiler)[Particularly, the Sheriff's quick defense of Cutter's memory. I also don't think the brothers were involved with her desth, but this talk of her having a boyfriend definitely has me intrigued. Who is he? (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 30: I do feel bad for (view spoiler)[Beau. He's holding onto a lot of guilt. I don't think his brother did it thougg, even though it sounds like he and Cutter went out in the swamp together the night she died. Curious how Marcy will ultimately connect. Why was she out in the swamp for 5-days? Was someone holding her? Did she steal the food, or did someone steal it for her? (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 43: Well, I'll be a son of a gun. And just like that (view spoiler)[things start to fall into place. It was Broussard. (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 45: Ohhhh, I love that it was the (view spoiler)[white alligator that got him. I would like to think part of that was Cutter's fighting spirit getting her revenge on the man who took everything from her. So good. (hide spoiler)]

Done! I really enjoyed this one. I generally like this sort of Hillbilly Noir/Crime Fiction, esp involving someone returning to their hometown. This was light years above Bailey's debut, IMO. Looking forward to more from them!

Trisha wrote: "and I'm done..."

I agree, Fantastic ending. I definitely felt for those siblings. The way they were (view spoiler)[brought up. They just didn't have the right background to know how to cope and relate with one another before it was too late. You could tell they all really loved each other. I'm happy for Loyal too - it feels like a bit of closure for her and even though things probably won't get easier for her Mom, I'm glad she's there and it feels like she feels more grounded now. She's not running from anything any more. (hide spoiler)]