Winstead’s latest suspense is a story that needs to be told—about misogyny, sexual violence, and human trafficking, and how innocent trust can lead to abusive seduction...This explosive cautionary tale of a 'podcast meets sex cult meets murder' will captivate fans of twisted psychological suspense.
The Last Housewife is a propulsive thriller that turns the idea of the contemporary housewife upside down...As Winstead plays with power and patriarchy and the effects they have on beautiful women like Shay, readers are sure to see alarming parallels in modern society.
This is not a light or easy read; it raises many questions about sexual consent and agency as it depicts a powerful organization hellbent on maintaining that power...But it's also suspenseful and propulsive, as Shay begins getting closer and closer to the truth --- and gradually starts to recall the self she’s kept painfully buried for far too long...It’s clear that Ashley Winstead is a talented writer, regardless of the genre, and I eagerly will seek out whatever she comes up with next.
Winstead offers insight into the masochistic psychology that can set up vulnerable women to be recruited into cults, but readers should be prepared for ugly scenes of self-harm, suicide, rape, and misogyny...This dark suspense novel may be too grim for some.
