A relaxing cruise that might seal a new romance, with the bonus of spa pampering and excellent food, soon morphs into a hellish trip. Will Dean (The Last Thing to Burn) navigates solid suspense in The Last One, the story of four passengers who find themselves adrift, alone on the high seas. Caroline "Caz" Ripley is thrilled to mark her 13th date with her new boyfriend, Pete Davenport, on a "weeklong romantic getaway." The RMS Atlantica defines luxury, an ocean liner "roughly double the size of the Titanic." The first night, a perfection of food, wine, and setting, reinforces Caz's feeling that Pete may be the one. But the next morning, Pete is gone, apparently along with the rest of the passengers, captain, and crew, though the Atlantica seems to be keeping on course--like a "modern-day Mary Celeste." Eventually, Caz stumbles on three other passengers--calm businessman Daniel, fearful Francine, and cantankerous Smith. There's no reason to panic yet: they have plenty of food, potable liquids, electricity. Then the conveniences stop, and civilization begins to break down.
Dean skillfully melds a claustrophobic atmosphere with the remote churning of a dark sea to maximize a frightening effect. Midway through The Last One, Dean makes a shift in plot direction that ups the tension and delivers a pointed social critique. While The Last One often threatens to run aground, Dean keeps careful control of his plot. Caz's comment--"Stepping aboard a ship is an act of faith"--proves true in this cautionary tale for travelers. --Oline H. Cogdill, freelance reviewer