Book Review: The Last Laugh by Mindy McGinnis
Today, I get to review The Last Laugh by Mindy McGinnis, which is the conclusion to the duology of The Initial Insult. With more secrets than you can count, and a satisfying conclusion that just feels right, readers of The Last Laugh will not be disappointed. Unless you hate thrillers 🙂
Just an FYI, this review may contain spoilers of The Initial Insult, so go read that first!!
Book Information
Tress Montor feels the weight of her guilt for killing her best friend. Not only that, but she feels the weight of infection creeping up her arm, wanting to kill her. With the panther on the loose and nothing left to drive her, Tress is feeling defeated and alone. But sinister things are happening in Amontillado, and this time, Tress has nothing to do with them. With the heartbeat necklace reminding her of Felicity, Tress must learn to hide her guilt and how to survive the plotting of those who want her dead.
Review | Heidi Dischler
I think I want to start off with the fact that I didn’t like Ribbit’s alternating chapters as much as I liked Felicity’s. Although it was nice to gain a little insight into his twisted little mind. With Ru, as well, I didn’t feel as enthralled as I had with the panther. However, I was so confused about what the hell Ru was talking about when she kept going on and on about the danger. I’m not sure if her chapters were confusing or if I just wasn’t paying enough attention.
With the character development that happens in this novel, I loved seeing Tress fight for her life. Sounds kinda sadistic now that I’ve written it out… but she literally has so much fight and so much strength. It’s scary if I’m being honest, but so admirable. Ribbit just plain scared me. No admiration included.
The plot, I’m sad to say, was guessed a lot and I knew what was going to happen with a few exceptions that I’ll mention in the spoilers. A lot of the things that I guessed were hinted to throughout the novel, so I don’t think it’s a flaw exactly. It just makes everything a little less exciting.
Also, it deserves a quick mention that the Edgar Allan Poe references throughout this book are amazing. I don’t remember if they mentioned Tress’s parent’s names in the first novel, but it caught me by surprise when they were said together during The Last Laugh. Annabelle and Lee. I was like. Oh. My. Gosh. And then I started laughing profusely.
Spoilers ahead.
Here are my exceptions to things that I guessed: I did NOT guess that Hugh was her brother. That kinda hit me by surprise but made sense since he was nice to her for no reason whatsoever. I also didn’t guess—I did, I was just pleading that it wasn’t true—that Hugh would actually die. I thought he’d be saved, but that is too coincidental for a wonderful writer like Mindy McGinnis, and I totally get that.
As far as the things that I guessed? Well, in the first novel it was hinted at who killed her parents. I knew it was Tress’s aunt. Obviously, you find out pretty early on in this novel because of Ribbit’s point of view, but I knew it was going to happen. Felicity still being alive? Yeah, that one was a given because of the end of the first novel. The fact that she stayed alive for that long is what surprised me. The private investigator not chasing after Tress to arrest her? Also, a given. Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t think these things were supposed to be hidden, so knowing them early on makes sense.
The one character I felt bad for throughout the whole thing? Brin. I’m not 100% sure on that spelling since I listened to the audiobook, but jeez. That girl was just trying to be nice to everyone and came out with A LOT of emotional trauma.
Overall, Mindy McGinnis never disappoints when it comes to thrillers. I was so ready for The Last Laugh to come out after I had finished The Initial Insult and still had soo many questions. This novel satisfied them all and I can truly say that I am happy with the way things turned out (even if some were a little more gruesome than others….) Anyway, go read this novel. You won’t regret it. Unless you have a vivid imagination, then you should probably tread with caution because this novel has tons of violence and gore. Described in detail. You were warned. (Still one of my favorite reads this year, though).
Source: Audiobook from Audible
You mean Edgar Allen Poe never disappoints when it comes to thrillers. This author took MORE than inspiration from several of his poems, and stories. Nothing about this book was good, basically attempt to murder your best friend and wind up a millionaire. Then, despite the first book repeating over and over again, and reminding you in the sequel that money doesn’t matter in this town; Tress so happily gets to declare that people clap for her because she’s rich as shit. Yet, also refused to take her aunts deal and wasn’t actually handed over anything. In reality, a criminal investigation would be launched, girl was RESPONSIBLE for blowing up the town lol. “Ribbit” was an insufferable incel with rapist vibes that added literally nothing to the book. All he did was slow down the story. It’s Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Tell Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat” and “The Fall of The House of Usher” and mix in the Tiger King and you have this book. All the characters were cringe, especially Tress and her ridiculously stupid “king pin” wanna be vibes. No way this girl wouldn’t have been placed in a foster home or taken in by a normal family. Given the town puts so much importance on four last names; and considering she’s somehow the offspring of 3 out of the 4 founding families. Yet, as the book continues to contradict the narrative it really tries to drive into you: apparently your last name doesn’t matter either lol. This book and this author are a joke and I hope she doesn’t continue to rip off and butcher already published works in the future.
I honestly liked it from its dark subject matter, but you definitely have a valid point about her taking more than inspiration from Poe’s stories!! I love Mindy McGinnis as an author, but this isn’t her best work. I’d definitely recommend checking out Be Not Far From Me (my personal favorite) and The Female of the Species if you ever want to read a book by her again!