Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams is a relentless, claustrophobic thriller that completely had me in its grip. The story follows best friends Tess and Allie as they embark on a long-delayed caving expedition that quickly turns into a nightmare. After a violent encounter deep underground leaves Tess trapped in a narrow crawl space, the narrative shifts between her fight for survival and a post-rescue interrogation, where disturbing truths about Allie’s past begin to surface. What starts as a survival story slowly morphs into something darker and far more personal.

One of the biggest strengths of this book is its structure and use of POVs. Adams layers the story through multiple perspectives and timelines: Tess trapped in the cave, the events leading up to the trip, and the aftermath as Tess recounts her experience to a detective. This constant shifting creates an almost suffocating tension, forcing the reader to piece together what really happened while never letting the suspense ease. Every POV feels purposeful, revealing just enough information to keep you questioning motives, memories, and the truth itself. The way Adams withholds and reframes details makes the twists feel earned, even if you start to sense where things are heading.

The atmosphere is absolutely stellar. I felt claustrophobic the entire time I was reading, which says a lot. As someone who worked at a cavern as a teen and in college (who has dome some actual caving, including those terrifyingly narrow crawl spaces) this book took me back. The descriptions of formations, tight squeezes, and the psychological toll of being underground felt incredibly authentic. I found myself recognizing details and terminology, which made the experience even more immersive and honestly pretty satisfying.

The story itself is a wild ride. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and while I did begin to see the big twist coming, it still packed a punch. Adams captures the essence of the caving experience so well that it deepened my connection to the characters and heightened the stakes at every turn. With its smart structure, intense POV work, and suffocating atmosphere, Her Last Breath easily earns five stars from me. Highly, highly recommend

Other Taylor Adam’s Reviews

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★★★

Her Last Breath comes out February 17, 2026. Huge thank you to William Morrow for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.