I often find myself thinking about the fact that, as an avid reader, there’s a surprising number of authors I’m aware of but have never actually read. Louise Penny, J.A. Jance, James Lee Burke—the list goes on and on. Over the years, I’ve made a point to chip away at that list, and in several cases, I’ve discovered new favorites in the process.
Like many thriller fans, I first became aware of Taylor Adams when his debut novel, No Exit, burst onto the scene and blew readers away. For whatever reason, though, I never picked it up. So when I came across Adams’s newest novel, Her Last Breath, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to finally experience his work for myself. As is so often the case in these situations, I couldn’t help but kick myself for not reading him sooner.
Best friends Allie and Tess were thick as thieves through high school, but their lives took very different paths after graduation. Allie has always been the adventurous one—kind, beautiful, outgoing. She’s built a career as an influencer, documenting her globe-spanning travels for an eager audience. Tess, on the other hand, is far more risk-averse. She works as a lawyer, buried under student loans and long hours, safely tucked inside an office while watching Allie’s adventures unfold from afar.
For years, Allie has begged Tess to join her on a caving expedition, and for years Tess has found excuse after excuse to decline. This time, though, she runs out of both excuses and better judgment, finally agreeing to go. The two women arrive at the remote Devil’s Staircase, a cave system notorious for challenging even seasoned explorers. Tess is uneasy from the start, but Allie reassures her. They have the proper equipment, and Allie’s boyfriend, Ethan, is on standby in case of emergency.
Still, something feels off. Parked near the cave’s entrance is the vehicle of a stranger who claims he’s there to monitor the bat population. But he isn’t who he says he is. When he harasses the women, Allie pushes back—and he retaliates. Soon Tess is left terrified, alone, and hunted in the dark, every one of her worst fears brought to life.
I seriously can’t believe I’ve never read anything by Taylor Adams before. If Her Last Breath is any indication of his ability to shock and thrill, I’ve truly been missing out. This book is tense, claustrophobic, and genuinely terrifying—and the deeper I got into it, the more relentless it became.
Adams writes with a straightforward, no-frills approach, carefully peeling back layers of what really happened as the story unfolds. I was hooked from the very first chapter. And just when I thought I had the truth figured out, another twist would send the narrative careening in a completely unexpected direction. This is thriller writing at its best. It's page-turning, suspenseful, twisted, and an absolute blast to read.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2026, 14)
