I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

"Her Last Move" by John Marrs is a fast-paced, dark psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story’s twists and turns add a layer of suspense, making it a gripping read. The pacing is relentless, ensuring that there’s never a dull moment. However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, there were a few plot holes that, upon reflection, could have been addressed for a more seamless narrative. Luckily, these did not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.

One aspect I didn’t particularly care for was the early reveal of the killer’s identity. Personally, I prefer the thrill of trying to piece together the clues and guessing who the culprit is, and having this mystery unraveled too early in the story felt like it somewhat spoiled the suspense. Nonetheless, the dark atmosphere and intriguing characters kept me engaged throughout. Fans of fast-paced thrillers with dark themes will appreciate this book, even if the early revelation of the killer may not be to everyone’s taste.

3 stars - this was my first time reading a book by John Marrs, so I had high expectations going into it. I found the idea of the police super recognizers to be an interesting concept, but this wasn’t my favorite. I’d still be interested to see what other work the author has written.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC through NetGalley.

This book started with a bang, two murders and the pace never let up until the end. DS Becca Vincent is quite a driven character, although I failed to empathise with her however and there were a few inconsistencies throughout, especially by Becca. Strangely, I found the killer to be quite interesting, my overall impression is that the book is very depressing and just didn't do it for me. thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

One of the best thriller writers out there! John Marrs never, ever disappoints! He is original, twisted and always manages to throw in some wry humour along the way when you're least expecting it.
Every new book from Marrs is something to celebrate! He just gets better and better!

Her Last Move is now the 6th novel I have read by John Marrs, and I swear I love his writing more and more with each one. This is a fast-moving (no puns I swear) storyline filled to the brim with triggers including one with cats (😭), so I would highly recommend checking those out before getting into it. There are also plenty of wild and gruesome moments, so maybe don’t eat while reading this one either. 😂 There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and I had to make sure I was paying attention, so I didn’t miss anything. I especially liked that this was detective fiction mixed with thriller and there is no length Marrs won’t go to keep things interesting.

I enjoyed the way that we got to meet Becca and Joe on a little bit deeper level than just the surface, and thanks to the author I was motivated to Google super-recognizers. If you don’t know what these are, you need to Google as well because it is absolutely fascinating and now, I wish I was one. I was a little disappointed that the audiobook didn’t have a full cast which would have been REALLY fun, but I was also very happy with the way Elizabeth Knowelden narrated. She was both easy to listen to and understand, and I could listen to her all day. If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you on your toes, blow you away, and disgust you all at the same time, look no further than Her Last Move!

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

NOTE: The author graciously gave me a copy of this book and asked me to write a review.

Those who have read any previous John Marrs novels have come to appreciate the intricate way in which he constructs his plots and the many twists and turns his stories take along the way. So, it should come as no surprise that his latest work shows that same attention to detail even in a new genre, the police procedural, that is somewhat structured. “Her Last Move” is a very good read, not just for mystery fans, but for those who enjoy well-plotted books in general.

“Her Last Move” is the story of the hunt for a serial killer who plans out his crimes in meticulous detail and, over a span of only a few days, murders a string of seemingly randomly chosen people in various gruesome manners, leaving virtually no clues behind. Of course, the victims are anything but random, but finding out why they have been chosen is a challenge, both for readers of the book and for the army of police investigators on the case. The author concentrates on the two lead detectives, who become involved in different ways. Becca Vincent happened to be there on a crowded subway platform when the killer caused his first victim to fall in front of an oncoming train and get squished. Since there was video camera coverage of the entire incident, Becca calls on expert help in the person of Joe Russell, an identification specialist with a photographic memory, dubbed a “super-recogniser.” (The author has done his research; these experts actually exist.)

“Her Last Move” follows the three main characters, the detectives and the killer, in alternating chapters told from the points of view of each. Some of the elements in the book are quite familiar for fans of the genre: the interviewing of witnesses and possible suspects, dead ends and wrong turns, near misses, a chase scene, and the gradual piecing together of clues and assembling a profile of the killer. But, as the book progresses, the author gets into more detail about the psychology and background of the three main characters (using several flashbacks), which eventually reveal that all three are carrying around some heavy psychological baggage. Both Becca and Joe have messy personal lives to deal with as well. Becca is a workaholic trying to prove that she’s in the same league with her male colleagues and also find time for a special-needs daughter. Meanwhile, Joe has some unresolved family matters from his past and marital issues to boot stemming from his obsession with that past.

Viewed merely as a police procedural or, in other words, the way the basic story would play out on an episode of a typical cop drama, “Her Last Move” is a solid work with an exceptionally creative and sadistic villain. The author’s dialogue is quite good, capturing the banter among the detectives and pointed interrogation of an early suspect in the case quite effectively. Also, the use of “super-recognisers” such as Joe to track down the killer is a welcome change from the vast majority of TV procedurals. Those shows employ the writing crutch of “facial recognition software” to identify anyone in three seconds based on a single frame of security camera footage and then reveal enough about the suspect’s criminal record and whereabouts to allow the cops to make an arrest within the show’s 60-minute time frame. Marrs eschews such gimmickry in favor of traditional trial-and-error police work, which makes for a much more entertaining novel.

Like all of John Marrs’s books, however, “Her Last Move” is far from simple, and the story never proceeds straightforwardly from beginning to end. Instead, his books are filled with surprises, strange twists, and seemingly distinct storylines that intersect in highly unexpected ways. I noted that the first Marrs book I read and reviewed, “Welcome to Wherever You Are,” reminded me of the TV series “Lost” in terms of complex, interconnected structure, and his subsequent books have that same quality to them. Despite having relatively fewer characters than do the author’s other books, “Her Last Move” manages to tie both major and minor characters together in unexpected ways that are gradually revealed as the book goes along. With the help of those revelations, the author surprises readers over and over again en route to one big shock that everyone will remember.

As anyone who has ever seen a magic trick revealed will tell you, it’s very simple if you know where to look. For that reason, both magicians and mystery writers try to misdirect their audience. The magician does it with lights and sounds; similarly, many authors do the same thing, overwhelming their readers with red herrings and intriguing subplots that eventually go nowhere. John Marrs does something that’s considerably more difficult and ultimately makes for a more satisfying reading experience. In “Her Last Move,” he lets his readers mislead themselves by playing on their preconceptions to induce them to jump to the wrong conclusions. This discussion might seem a bit vague, but I really don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of the book. When all is said and done though, readers will come away with a greater appreciation for the author’s skill in choosing his words and what he decides to reveal and conceal.

None of John Marrs’s books can be pigeonholed into a particular category. Instead, he adapts his technique and methods of putting his books together to the genre in which he’s working, and the results, to coin a phrase, become distinctly Marrs-ian. “Her Last Move” is occasionally a bit rough around the edges—the personal situations his characters find themselves in are just too melodramatically described at times—but the end result is a fast-paced novel that will alternately thrill, surprise, and enlighten the reader. Hopefully, this book will not be John Marrs’s last move in this genre, but picking up a copy of “Her Last Move” should be discerning readers’ next move.

John Marrs is quickly becoming a favourite author for me! I only recently read The Passengers and absolutely loved it, so am slowly working my way through all of his books. I really enjoyed Her Last Move from start to finish and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen. It was very easy to read and I couldn’t predict what was going to happen. I guessed part of the ending, I was still surprised by what happened, but this is why I’ve taken one star away from my rating. I really liked the characters and liked that they had backstories. I feel like we get to learn quite a lot about them even though it’s a very plot-focussed book. I really liked the writing and it had me hooked from the start! Definitely recommend this one and I’m really looking forward to reading more of John Marrs’ books.

Another great one by the incredible John Maars. I absolutely love his books, each one has his own flair but are all incredibly unique. This one was very different than his books I've read in the past. But it is not a bad thing whatsoever. In this one I enjoyed the characters a ton and the twists and turns had me reeling and wanting more. I will say it wasn't my favorite of his but it was still amazing nonetheless.

This was not an unputdownable, edge-of-your-seat, “can’t go to sleep till finished” type of book, but it was enjoyable and it was worth definitely worth the read. All in all, a solid read if not life altering. But do we always need those? Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC opportunity !

I had a hard time getting into this story. I feel it is very slow in the beginning and I had a hard time getting through it. I think it just wasn't right for me and that others could find it to be enjoyable.

John Marrs is an excellent writer and most definitely knows how to tell an entertaining story. I’ve enjoyed a few of his books in the past but Her Last Move failed to hit the mark for me. It seemed to take quite a while to actually get going and it didn’t really grab me, as I’ve become used to from Marrs. Not at all as compelling or addictive as I expected it to be. Maybe it’s just because it’s a slightly older book; his books have for sure become a lot more exciting in recent years.

I've tried several times and I just couldn't get into this one. The way the story starts is compelling but it wasn't enough to keep me reading. I like the suspense but it just wasn't for me.

Loved this book and really enjoyed getting to know Beccs and joe. Really interesting to find out more about super recognisers and the work they do.

I am a huge fan of John’s books and this did not disappoint me either. Another brilliant read. It’s fast paced, dark, tense, thrilling, brutal, gripping and an edge of your seat read. Honestly amazing. It’s very descriptive in parts which made my stomach turn a little. Gory.

The serial killer in this story has a plan, a very clever plan. He is always one step ahead of the team investigating him. It soon becomes personal and deadly for one of the team members. I actually cried towards the end and shouted NOOOOO. It really was a page turner of a read I didn’t want to put down. But will the killer slip up? He believes he is killing for his benefit and others will understand but will they?

A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend.

I have loved every book I have read by John Marrs and this one is no different. I was a little nervous because it is police procedural heavy, but I really didn't even notice. I breezed through the book. I laughed, I cried, and I swore. Such is the way with most every book by him. I don't want to give too many details, since the less you know in any thriller, the better it is. All in all, I loved it and plan to keep reading John Marrs' books until I have read them all.

Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish, u didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended, if you like books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

Having read and absolutely loved all Mr Marrs previous book I was super excited to read this one . However after reading about 30% of this book I was starting to feel slightly anxious as I just wasn’t enjoying it in the way I had with the others . After a few more chapters however the story started appealing more to me and I was beginning to settle in and loved where the plot was going . A story with great characters and even though it took a while for me to get into I would highly recommend this book .


** I read this book in 2018 and have only noticed today that I had forgotten to leave my review on Netgalley ***

This was so fantastic and gripping. I didn't see any of the twists coming, and left me gasping to the end page. John Marrs is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, he just never disappoints. Brilliant

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in exchange for an honest reviewThis is the first John Marrs book I've read, but it definitely wont be my last. The book alternates between three POVs - the protagonist Becca, who is a detective hoping to have her big career break on this case, Joe, a "super-recognizer" that works for the police, and the killer. I really enjoyed the killer's chapters and getting that creepy insight into his twisted mind. I was constantly trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and while I was able to figure out part of the mystery, there were other pieces that I didn't see coming, so I really enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. The ending was quite heartbreaking to me. I recommend this book 100%.