There is nothing quite like a complex crime novel with a myriad of plot twists and turns to curl up with on a cool Autumn evening. Her Last Move had it all, an increasingly dangerous psychopath, a detective constable torn between being the best detective she could be and a Mum and, a detective with a difference, a super recogniser who could memorise faces.

They each had a past, a secret, one they wanted to remain hidden, but as we all know a good crime novelist doesn’t allow secrets to be buried for long, and Marrs really did put me through the proverbial mill as he told their stories.

I loved that each of the characters were so different, particularly Joe and Becca. Becca, had two distinct sides, that of a police officer desperate to make her mark as a detective, and that of a mother attempting to balance the two roles. She had masses of determination and tenacity and if at first she appeared dismissive of Joe and his talents she soon learnt to appreciate his skills as the investigation evolved.

Joe, was just lovely, a man who you knew would be loyal, who you could trust, a man who battled his own demons, yet immersed himself in the investigation to the detriment of his own health.

As for the killer, he was evil personified, a man who you hated more and more as you read, even if his motives had a tinge of human emotion attached to them. His quest for revenge, was one of torture and violence and definitely not for the faint hearted, yet you had to admire his inventiveness and thorough planning and preparation!

Marr’s didn’t let the reader rest as the stakes were raised for all those involved and, you wondered just how Becca and Joe would finally snag their prey.

Their pasts slowly tumbled out and this only made me like Joe and Becca even more and I was hoping that they would be triumphant in their quest to catch the killer.

We all know that the course of a good thriller never runs as we would like or predict and Marrs excelled on the surprise front, throwing in a few curve balls that took me completely by surprise.

There was fantastic tension and drama throughout, the pace unrelenting, the descriptive narrative, almost too much too bear at one point, as you kept your fingers crossed for a happy ending. He definitely had me on the edge of my seat at times, an element that I love in a good thriller.

It was a thriller with a palpable air of menace, of evil, but also a reminder of the capacity us humans have for hurting others and how it can affect our futures.

It couldn’t be more different from Marr’s previous novel, The One, showcasing his wonderful ability to be more than a one genre author. Roll on the next novel!!

Oh wow. Put some time away for this book. It has all the ingredients for a terrific psychological thriller.

No spoilers from me. Book is great with lots of lies, deception, tragedy, and twists. Also, loved the unpredictable ending. Can't say enough great about this. Read it today!!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fabulous book.

This fast-paced thriller was a quick read, and the gradual release of information throughout the story keeps the reading wanting to come back for more. Although the story was a little predictable at times, I kept wanting to read on to get to the end. For some, the ending will not be satisfying, but sometimes it's better to end in a realistic manner. I've enjoyed John Marrs writing, and I will continue to read books by this author.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had heard lots about John Marrs books but until now I haven't read any so thought I would give this a go and I was not disappointed.
DS Becca Vincent was on the platform when someone fell under the train and when it turns out to be more than a fall she has the opportunity to show her worth as a detective, this is the opening she has been waiting for. When more bodies are added on to the case she finds herself a little out of her depth and is introduced to a super recogniser Joe Russell who can pick out a face in a crowd with no problem. Both the characters have great personal stories that are woven in without distracting from the initial story line. I found myself not wanting it to end but as usual all good things have to end but the ending was as explosive as the beginning.
Great book, thank you NetGalley for my copy

I'm a huge John Marrs fan and have read all his books and, although they're not really comparable against each other, as they're all very different, Her Last Move may be my new favourite. I love the concept of using that under appreciated police department of the super-identifiers. Unusual and clever. Becca is a superb character, I completely bought in to her back story and ongoing predicaments. The relationship between her and Joe, which turned out to be even better than originally intimated, was just divine. The story was very different to usual psychological thriller fare, and I was impressed with Mr Marrs taking a risk with an individual and atypical story. The fast pace of the killer was matched by the fast pace of the book, and I found myself staying up until 4am because I simply had to find out what happened in the end. 5 stars and a very highly recommended from me.

knew what to expect from him, but this one was a bit different. I love police procedural stories, so this proved to be right up my street.

I have read a lot of this kind of story, but have not come across super-recognisers before. It definitely brought a whole new element to the story for me. Joe as a character is a bit of an enigma, and I loved reading about him. The final two lines in the book gave us a hint of what could come next and I am already desperate to know more.

A great read for fans of the author and new readers alike. Many thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy.

Detective Becca Vincent has placed her career on the back burner most of her adult life, but when bodies start showing up, murdered in very gruesome, strategic ways she decides this case is the perfect time to step out from the shadows and take center stage for her own. Except, she isn't alone, this killer has his sights set on her and he's willing to face the odds to snare her in his game. One the hunter, the other the pray and it's a race against time to see who remains standing at the end of this chest match.

Her Last Move was not a book I would pick off the shelf for myself, however I am beyond thrilled that I chose to request this for an Advanced Reader Copy. This is one of may favorite reads in all of 2018. It leaves you feeling so disturbed your stomach feels uneasy and you'll keep one eye open at night, even in your own house. Truly this book would be a 5/5 based on deception, horrific murders, and dialogue alone, but Marrs doesn't stop there. Each character is developed in such a way that their own stories take you down another path, so indulging and gripping. This doesn't leave you guessing for lack of content, on no Marrs gives you everything you want, then some, and then more than you may have wished to have ever read, but in the greatest way. You'll want to close your eyes, except you can't because the words drag you down into its depths and won't let go until every last word is read.

This book packed a real wallop!

The talented Mr Marrs is clearly going from strength to strength when it comes to his writing career and a change of genre has not done him any harm at all.

I thought Becca and Joe made a great crime-fighting team and their complex personal lives just added to the richness of the story. The killer was particularly nasty and my heart skipped a beat more than once.

Loved this book and I hope that the author writes another one in this genre, a sequel to this story would also be great, I sense there is still a story left to tell about Joe.

This is my third Marrs book and ding ding ding, it's another winner!! I love how intricately different each book was - The Good Samaritan, The One and now Her Last Move. I will say that this one took me a little longer to connect with but when it did... BAM - I was hooked and that was IT - goodbye productivity!
Told in three different POVs, we get the views of Joe, Becca and Dominic. Becca and Joe are working together to catch the serial killer that is Dominic who has been methodical and elusive. Not only do we get to go on this journey with them but we also get a glimpse into their lives. Each one having their own personal problems and demons to fight. Now... there was one part that surprised me. John, you WENT THERE... and I loved it! I don't want to delve into it as to not spoil anything for anyone but I do love it when a book surprises me...
I did feel for each of these characters. I can't imagine how hard being in their line of work is and how it can deeply affect their personal lives. Balance is hard when you're basically married to your job. Add a side of even more background and uff.. these poor guys. I even felt for Dominic and his psychotic ways - there's always a reason.
Fun fact - Oscar made a cameo - that's the name of the author's dog!
Marrs has become an autobuy author for me and I look forward to everything he has coming our way. I highly recommend any of the three books I've read of his so far and one day I'll get to the others that have already published.

Absolutely brilliant, gripping from start to finish, a great set of characters with a really fab story too

"How could a good man make such bad decisions? We all have choices."

The first two deaths occurred within hours of each other. Although strikingly dissimilar in manner, the team at Metropolian Police's Westminster-based CID is convinced that the perpetrator must be the same person. When a third victim is discovered, DS Becca Vincent -- who argued strongly to be included on the investigation -- gets input from a facial recognition expert attached to the force. DS Joe Russell knows that Becca doesn't think much of his particular set of skills but he proves very helpful when combing through hours of CCTV. Becca and Joe knock on a lot of doors during this case and have a very difficult task in trying to identify and find their suspect even as he continues his spree. There doesn't seem to be any motivation for these particular people to be killed so establishing a connection is quite difficult. Meanwhile, both Becca and Joe experience some real upheaval in their personal lives that relates to their own family situations and history and that affects their ability to really work the case. Mistakes are made, more lives are taken...NO SPOILERS.

I have enjoyed all of the books I've read by this author and this one proved just as intriguing as the others. All are standalones and each has a different focus and set of characters. I was interrupted in my reading due to the Thanksgiving holiday but couldn't put it down today as I raced through the pages to a shattering conclusion. I was not really able to relate to Becca or Joe, but I liked them both and felt for them in their struggles. It was interesting to learn about the "super recognizers" and their particular talent for remembering faces. The case was a bit complicated and I was eager to see how it would all come out in the end. The point of view does shift between Becca, Joe and the murderer so it's not a who done it as much as it is a WHY done it. I liked the writing style and the pacing. It does have some gruesome scenes so be aware if you are sensitive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Always enjoy John Marrs and this one definitely impressed. As is quite typical of his books, there are multiple characters involved as victims and a race against time to try to save the final one. I really liked both Becca and Joe's characters on the police side of things and Joe's role is quite unique as far as crime novels go. It's a very tense read and action packed too. I didn't guess the killer's MO before it was revealed and it's quite clever how it is revealed bit by bit with clues that eventually start to add up together. Highly recommended and can't wait for the author's next book!

My first thought, after I finished reading this novel, was “WOW!”. That was a rollercoaster of a read. It’s so full of twists, some more shocking and surprising than others, that, at some point, I simply lost count. I never knew what to expect next.

There are three protagonists and three different points of views. One is DS Becca Vincent. She is a young officer at the MET. She is very ambitious, brave, determined, and feisty. She is a single mother with a complicated situation at home and, often, we see her struggle, as she tries to juggle both her personal and professional life, as her desire to prove herself in her job competes with the guilt she feels over not spending too much time with her family. At the beginning of the novel, I found the character of Becca a bit self-centered and selfish, but then she develops well as the story progresses and she becomes more likable and engaging.

Then, there is Joe Russell. Like Becca, he works for the MET, but not as an officer, but as a “super recognizer”. Thanks to his photographic memory, Joe is able to memorize every little detail in people’s faces and he remembers them even after months and years. The MET uses his ability to find murderers and terrorists and Becca asks for his help in finding the killer in the case she is working on. I love Becca and Joe’s relationship. They both are struggling with demons from their pasts and they both love the work they do. I enjoyed reading how their relationship quickly develops and their witty exchanges made me laugh. Joe is gentle, smart, and a bit nerdy and he is my favourite character in the novel.

The third protagonist of the story is the killer. Even though the story is narrated in third person, we, the readers, are right inside his twisted mind. We don’t know his identity until almost the end. We know that he is on a mission. He has a list of six people to kill, he reveals so himself, but we don’t know who these people are and why they are on his list until after they are murdered, some in a very gruesome and violent way.

HER LAST MOVE is a dark and disturbing novel that shows, once again, that John Marrs is a great storyteller. Thanks to his brilliant writing style the tension is always high, the atmosphere is claustrophobic, and the characters are vividly drawn. I was completely glued to the pages of HER LAST MOVE, from the first to the very last shocking word.

I was drawn straight into this book by the wonderfully inventive murder that plays out over the first few pages. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what the victim had done to warrant the attention of this ruthless killer. It quickly becomes clear that there is nothing random about the choice of victims and the police are in a race against time to catch the murderer before all the names are crossed off the hit list.

I loved the dynamic of the two main characters: Becca and Joe. I was just feeling the sexual tension sizzling when John Marrs very cleverly pulled the rug out from under my feet, leaving my mouth agape. Both of them have very sad and intriguing personal stories to contend with which interfere with their jobs to varying degrees and at opposite end of the work/life spectrum: Joe can't stop looking for his missing sister even when it gets in the way of his job but Becca always seems to allow her job to take priority over her daughter.

Becca's life reminded me of the saying that nobody ever lies on their deathbed and says that they wish they'd spent more time at work. Getting the work/life balance right is a difficult one and it was really interesting to see the effect that Becca's actions had on her daughter and her mum. I felt as if Joe is the opposite in that he would give up his job in a heartbeat if it meant that he could find his missing sister, Linzi. Of course, there are always two sides to every story and Joe is going to have to give his job up at some point in the near future so it perhaps makes his obsession easier to understand.

The way the whole story plays out is just superb; I found it really difficult to put down and couldn't wait until I had time to pick back up where I left off. I loved the idea of the super-recognisers in the police force and had no idea of their existence. It sounds like something out of X-Men but it is very real indeed and they sound like an amazing secret weapon for the police to have. Well, perhaps not so secret now thanks to John Marrs!

Filled with shocks and surprises, Her Last Move is a multi-dimensional story that thrills from start to finish and all the way in between. A highly recommended read and an easy 5 stars.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

4.5 stars. Another thoroughly good book by this author. Loads of twists and turns that I certainly didn’t expect. Love his books and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. Cracking read!

I need to start this review with a crime fiction lover's confession; this is the first book I have read by John Marrs but having read so many enthusiastic reviews about his previous books, I knew he was an author I need to check out and could tell after just a few pages that I was on to a good thing. The prologue of Her Last Move opens with a well planned and executed murder, and it's a killing that is bound to send chills down the spine of anybody who has travelled by the tube. This is the killer's first murder but he has a list and it's not long before his next target also reaches an untimely, horrific death.
DS Becca Vincent is the first person to realise that two separate deaths may be connected, with both the victim of the same killer but as the body count rises, the police struggle to figure out the connection, particularly as each new death is very different to the last. With so much of London covered by CCTV, CID call in a facial recognition expert from the Visual Images, Identifications and Detections Office, nicknamed the super-recognisers. These are people with a photographic memory for faces, their success rate is far higher than facial recognition software and Joe Russell is one of the best. I loved the relationship which develops between Becca and Joe, their initial meeting doesn't go well and they both manage to cast dispersions on each other's jobs but these are two people with their own difficult pasts and a natural sense of empathy and intuition who soon learn to respect one another.
I really liked Becca who, like many women, is torn between her career ambitions and her family life. A tragedy is her past means she has more responsibilities than she had planned for but she isn't managing to balance them well which causes friction between herself and her mother. Her daughter, Maisie has Down's Syndrome and I really must compliment the author on his sensitive inclusion of a special needs child in the book. He recognises that there are adjustments that a parent will need to make but otherwise, Becca's relationship with her little girl and the guilt she feels at not giving her enough time and attention are the same as those experienced by many working parents, regardless of the number of chromosomes their child has.
Joe's expertise is absolutely fascinating and it's not a job I've read about before in police procedurals so I was intrigued to learn more about this real-life but little known area of police work. His own backstory is also marked by tragedy and it's perhaps not surprising that he and Becca should form a bond considering how their pasts continue to strongly influence their lives.
The two very likeable protagonists are a complete contrast to the murderer who is a thoroughly disturbing individual. Some of the chapters are written from his perspective as he continues with his meticulously planned killing spree. The deaths here are disturbing and violent but don't feel gratuitous, the tension comes from the build-up to his next attack but the actual act isn't shown and the reader learns about his victims' fates when the police arrive on the scene to learn just what horrifying murder his deranged mind has devised this time.
I was immediately engrossed by the fast-paced plot and raced through the pages in just a day. There are so many intriguing little strands to Her Last Move and I loved how they are all intricately and very cleverly brought together as the story progresses. It's also a genuinely shocking novel and I know it's a cliche to say so but I really didn't see the twists coming. I said at the start of my review that this is the first book I have read by John Marrs - it most certainly won't be the last. Gripping, surprising and highly recommended!

This book held me from start to finish. Another amazing piece of writing created by John Marrs.
I loved how the characters evolved; their personal stories and how their characters developed throughout the story line.
I enjoyed reading the different aspects of the police case, how their roles were described and the thought patterns of the main character.
I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy gripping books that continually works your brain.

I loved The Good Samaritan by this author and was eager and excited to receive an arc of his latest work, Her Last Move. Sadly, this book wasn't nearly as compelling as The Good Samaritan.

Overwritten, drawn out, and never held my interest.

DS Becca Vincent is struggling to juggle her work and personal life but has just landed the biggest case of her career. A serial killer is stalking the streets of London, each kill becoming more hideous than the last. Working alongside facial recognition expert, Joe Russell, the killer always seems to be one step ahead of them. Could he have someone on the inside working for him? Will Becca and Joe manage to catch him before he completes his mission and eliminates each of the people on his list?

I am going to start by saying how much I enjoyed this book and the way it was written. By having two protagonists instead of the usual one main character, we get to see the investigation from different branches of the police force. Becca, a no-nonsense detective was a complete contrast to Joe who, in the course of his work, was thorough and methodical due to his role as a facial recognition expert. I enjoyed how the relationship between Becca and Joe changed and how, although she was originally sceptical of his work, she began to see its value as the case progressed.

The case itself is a fascinating one and is more of a ‘whydunit’ than a ‘whodunit’. The first murder seems almost casual when we see how the killer escalates his crimes, each killing being more grisly than the last. It is apparent quite early on that the victims are connected in some way but we do not know how. This culminates in a huge twist that I definitely did not see coming! It’s not often that an author completely wrong foots me but John Marrs certainly did in Her Last Move. I was so taken aback that I had to go back and re-read a whole section to make sure that I had read it correctly!

In addition to the main storyline, there are subplots featuring the two main characters. I particularly enjoyed Joe’s backstory and, yet again, was thrown by how this ended. Joe was probably my favourite character and I felt great sympathy towards him as he battled with his past but also as he tried to come to terms with what was inevitably going to happen in his professional life.

Her Last Move is a thoroughly entertaining read that kept my attention right until the final page. This is the first book by John Marrs that I have read but it will definitely not be the last.

Wow, that was powerful - great plot, writing, characters! Becca was a good character and her back story was heartbreaking. The “I’m a woman and single mom and it’s hard in a man’s world” played a few too many times. I, by no means doubt (and know) it is, especially in a male centric profession (law enforcement) but enough already. Ok, only complaint. I loved Joe. The occupation (didn’t realize that’s a real thing. It is, googled it) was fascinating. His backstory was no happier though his current situation was so nice.

The story has twists and turns. It makes some clever connections I didn’t see coming. It has some happy moments and some very sad. The ending was realistic and that was good, but hard. The epilogue was the cherry on top! This was a good one! I will look forward to the next by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing UK for a copy in exchange for a review.