The third book in the Wayward Pines Trilogy is The Last Town. Is this novel a satisfying conclusion to this twisted tale? Read on for my thoughts, and don’t forget to check out my review of Pines and it’s sequel, Wayward.
Publisher’s Summary
Welcome to Wayward Pines, the last town.
Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrived in Wayward Pines, Idaho, three weeks ago. In this town, people are told who to marry, where to live, where to work. Their children are taught that David Pilcher, the town’s creator, is god. No one is allowed to leave; even asking questions can get you killed.
But Ethan has discovered the astonishing secret of what lies beyond the electrified fence that surrounds Wayward Pines and protects it from the terrifying world beyond. It is a secret that has the entire population completely under the control of a madman and his army of followers, a secret that is about to come storming through the fence to wipe out this last, fragile remnant of humanity.
My Thoughts
The Last Town is a fitting conclusion to the Wayward Pines Trilogy. With each book, the tension and conflict ratchets up to a stratospheric level. Ethan Burke is a man on a mission, going against the grain and the wishes of David Pilcher, a deliciously developed antagonist whose subtle nefariousness is both deplorable and charming. All of the characters in these books are rich with thoughts, emotions, motives, and flaws, making them feel authentic and relatable. While this is the final book in this trilogy, that doesn’t mean that Blake Crouch won’t eventually write another Wayward Pines book. The brand has been licensed by other authors, who’ve expanded on the wonderful universe that Crouch created, which is emblematic of the potential of this already influential and successful series. The audiobook version, which I listened to, is just as enjoyable as the first two. Brilliance Audio and the narrator did a fine job with this production, making for an audiobook I will listen to multiple times, as this story is one worth experiencing numerous times. I encourage you to do the same.