Book Review: The Last September

As The Last September opens, readers are introduced to Brett, who has stumbled upon the unthinkable. Her husband Charlie has been murdered in their seaside Cape Cod home, with his mentally ill brother Eli present at the scene. Eli disappears, and Brett and the readers are left to wonder: did Eli murder his brother? And what led him to it?

Author Nina de Gramont begins Brett’s story in the middle, and takes readers back and forth through time. Brett and Eli were best friends in college, but on the night she met his free-spirited brother Charlie, their relationship changed forever. Months later, Brett watched in horror as Eli experienced a mental breakdown.

At the time of her husband’s murder, Brett and Charlie have a young daughter. Charlie is unemployed and their marriage is under great strain. Charlie is always rescuing Eli, and a recent business venture has failed miserably. As Brett’s story continues, I found myself beginning to wonder if Brett was a reliable narrator. Did she have reason to kill her husband? Who is really responsible for Charlie’s death?

Read the rest of this review at Luxury Reading.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Luxury Reading.  I received no compensation in exchange for this review.  All opinions expressed here are my own.