Publisher: Coffee & Ink Press
Page Length: 310
Genre: Historical Mystery
For Leona Gladney, former woman soldier of the Union Army, life goes on despite the echoes of the battlefield in her heart. Now a suffragist and budding socialite in Brooklyn Heights, she yearns for a literary life and family. But her husband's business partner embezzles their money and disappears.
The society matrons of Brooklyn Heights turn a gimlet eye on Leona after the suspicious death of a wealthy friend. Leona will do anything to find justice for her friend and clear her own name, but she finds only secrets, seances and murder.
Life has never been particularly easy for Leona Gladney, but she has always managed to fight on and push through any difficulties thrown her way. This time, though, she might have met her match against things outside of her control.
Leona had planned on her life becoming easier after marrying Gil: a nice house, highly esteemed company, and nothing to worry about. But that isn’t necessarily the way things seem to go. She is not used to living the life of a contented married woman, her past holding some dark secrets that push her forward into high-stakes situations and curiosity that cannot be held back.
When a good friend of Leona’s is found dead, suspicions fly uncontrollably. Gossip is rife, and even though the death is pinned on natural causes, Leona cannot shake the feeling that something else is going on. Missing jewellery, staff whose whereabouts are unknown, and a deep feeling of dread push Leona on, determined to learn the truth about what happened to her friend and whether foul play is at hand. But society has turned its gossip onto her, and Leona quickly finds herself cut off from the friends she once held dear, their suspicions and whispers directed at her.
This is a novel of intricate storylines and complex matters. It is not only Daphne Van Wyn’s death that brings about suspicion, but also the matter of the missing jewellery. Leona’s husband had recently been swindled by his business partner, money stolen and lost, and the future of their livelihood hanging in the balance. Leona was a dear friend of Daphne, and with the plight of her husband’s finances widely known, people cannot help but suspect her of taking advantage of Daphne’s trust to gain access to expensive jewellery that could help to solve their financial situation. And yet, despite her innocence, Leona cannot help but feel that something more is going on than meets the eye. For Leona, all signs point to murder, and yet the distinct lack of motive makes it difficult for her to point a finger at anyone in particular. To learn the truth, she must dive deeper, learn more about the circumstances surrounding the death, and try to find out what happened to the staff who have not been seen since that dreadful night.
While reading this novel, I quickly found myself drawn into the careful intricacies that Leona encounters at every turn. As the story progresses, the plot only thickens and more mysteries arise. It quickly becomes apparent that there is no simple answer to any of the questions Leona finds herself facing, and the more she searches for the truth, the more lies she uncovers. I found myself consistently intrigued by this novel as I read, for the plot twists and turns so much that the moment you feel you might understand what is going on, something else happens that throws every assumption to the wind.
Leona is a character I found myself instantly connected to. She simply cannot sit by and wait for answers to find her, despite many people telling her to leave her investigations alone. To find the truth, she quickly realises that she must uncover it herself, but many people are not overly fond of her poking her nose in where it is not welcome. Her past has given her the confidence to stand on her own two feet, to push for what she wants and fight for freedom when necessary, but society frowns on women taking such an active interest in matters of finances, murder, and injustice.
Leona is a truly complex character. She joined the Union Army under a false name and fought under the alias of Private Leo Harrison, her hair cut short to blend in amongst the men. Despite the ghosts of war haunting her dreams and the acrid taste of gunpowder following her into her waking life, her time as a soldier has made her tough. Despite the lasting mental mark that war has left on her, it has given her the confidence to step forth into a difficult situation and be prepared to fight her way out if necessary. She refuses to back down, and this gives her an edge as she pushes forward in her careful investigations. The portrayal of how the war affected Leona is upsetting at times, and I truly felt for her as she struggles to leave the past behind. Reliance on laudanum pushes at Leona’s mind, the urge to reach for a little brown bottle to numb the pain of the past ever present, creating a flawed but sympathetic protagonist who is impossible not to root for.
With Leona being such an independent woman, I found myself consistently frustrated with the people around her. In particular, her husband Gil is not at all fond of Leona’s determination to find out the truth behind Daphne’s death and often becomes angry with her when he learns of her involvement in speaking to different people to try to figure out the truth. Although her investigations do put her in dangerous situations, and he has a right to be concerned for her wellbeing, he often comes across as an incredibly controlling man. With people such as this in Leona’s life, I often found myself more concerned for her when she was at home rather than when she was undercover or asking questions. There are secrets surrounding Leona in every aspect of her life, and the more she delves into the secrets that are clear to her, the more she begins to uncover a deeper and much darker web of lies that stretch far beyond Daphne’s death. This is truly a novel you cannot predict the outcome of, for the truth behind everything is withheld from the reader until the very last few pages and is so unpredictable it will truly leave you reeling.
Despite the many plot threads of this novel, it is not overly complicated to follow. Leona leads the way forward through the narrative, providing explanation where necessary. It can be a little difficult at times to keep track of all the characters, for Leona’s world is complex and made up of many different people. At times, it can feel as though some characters are unnecessary, their presence in the story lasting only a chapter or two before they become irrelevant as the novel progresses. Leona is involved in many different things; her writing and involvement in the suffragette movement are most prevalent, and although all of these additions create a well-rounded character, it can sometimes feel as though they are simply filling out an already complex plot. This is not to say the plot is difficult to follow; the careful investigations Leona undertakes completely capture my attention. However, at times the amount of information can make the story feel a little heavy with detail.
The Last Fatal Hour by Jan Matthews is an intense and intriguing novel of mystery and deception. With its many twists, layered secrets, and complex plotlines, it keeps the reader guessing right up until the final pages. While the number of characters and intertwining threads can occasionally make the story feel dense, the carefully constructed mystery and compelling protagonist make it a thoroughly engaging read. Readers who enjoy historical mysteries filled with intrigue and unexpected revelations will find much to enjoy in this cleverly constructed and absorbing story.
Review by Ellie Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club
Release Date: 7th April 2026
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Jan Matthews
Writing, reading, knitting, and gardening. Fueled by coffee and ink.
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