Monday, August 26, 2024

Book Review: The Last Exchange by Charles Martin

About the Book:



“Here’s the catch—even if I make it out of here alive, I need a reason to breathe again.”

When MacThomas Pockets finished his last tour as part of the Scottish Special Forces, he was hired to consult for a film director to finesse some scenes that weren’t working. In a twist he never saw coming, he ended up moving to L.A. to work as the bodyguard for movie star Maybe Joe Sue.

It didn’t take long for Pockets to realize there were two Joe Sues: The Joe Sue the public saw with her perfect life and her Hollywood husband. And the private Joe Sue: the one with the traumatic youth that no amount of pills could cover up, who desperately wanted a child of her own.

Even after their paths diverged, he continued to track Joe Sue’s life. Only a few would notice when the bottom fell out. But he did. And that’s when he stepped in.

One man seeks to answer the question: How far would you go—really— to save someone you love? And in the masterful hands of New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin, finding the answer will take readers on an intense and heart-wrenching journey to the very end.


My Thoughts:

The Last Exchange by Charles Martin tackled the question: How far would you go to save someone you love? To answer this, both the novel and its hero, Kelly MacThomas Pockets, pushed the boundaries of normality. Some of Pockets' actions felt bizarre even after the events precipitating those actions were explained. I questioned his tactics but admired his devotion to Joe Sue. Some readers may be too put off by Pockets’ extreme methods to enjoy the novel, but his every choice pointed back to the story’s main question.

The Last Exchange also explored human brokenness and spotlighted infertility struggles. These elements combined with intense plot action to keep me flipping the pages. I only paused reading the story when real life demanded it or I needed to sit with a poignant statement of truth. Some of the novel’s most powerful lines held spiritual undertones or paraphrased Bible verses. I recognized parallels between the sacrificial actions of Pockets and Jesus. However, The Last Exchange mostly had general market book vibes. 

In conclusion, The Last Exchange by Charles Martin proved addicting to read and certainly had its merits. Four stars for this gritty novel with a dedicated hero, truth bombs, and an intense plot that wouldn't let me go.  



Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

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