Book Review: The Last Innocent Hour

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Last Innocent Hour     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Barbara Taylor Sissel
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense   Thriller
Panther Creek, Jan 2001, $13.95, 186 pp.

Beth Cunningham accompanied by her chronically out of work husband Charlie and their daughter Chrissie returns home to Wither Creek, Texas for the first time in years. She reluctantly does so because her mother asked her to come home. She fled her Texas home several years ago to escape the abuse of her stepfather Jason Tinker.

Although an adult, Beth realizes some things never change or if they do, they get worse as Jason seems even crazier and deadlier than before. Not long after their return, the police arrest Charlie for murder, but Beth fails to help her spouse, as she is more concerned with her own safety and that of Chrissie because she believes Tinker will soon go after them.

THE LAST INNOCENT HOUR is a taut psychological suspense thriller that works because the readers taste the feelings of the key cast members. The frightened, remorseful, and enraged Beth actually makes the story line feel genuine as she is scared for not only herself, but for her innocent child and loaded with guilt for bringing Chrissie into this mess (still not sure why they just did not leave?). Surprisingly, Jason comes across as a psycho who the audience will feel pity for rather than apprehension. The plot is exciting and quite dark with no light in sight adding an almost gothic feel of impending doom for the two Cunningham females. In her debut novel, Barbara Taylor Sissel shows much talent as no human evil escapes her sight while describing the darkest night.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner