Her Last Move by John Maars pulled me right in with its dark, shadowy vibe and detailed police work. I often enjoy a third person perspective because it lets you see more angles of the story, and this one definitely delivered on that front. There is plenty of detective work, and the amount of procedural detail is impressive, almost too impressive at times. I will admit there was a point where I felt like I had earned my own honorary badge from sheer exposure.

The pacing? A little all over the map. But the writing style and atmosphere more than made up for it. Maars has a real knack for setting a scene and building mood, and that kept me hooked. I know some readers were not in love with the ending, but I enjoyed it. It wrapped everything up with a satisfying conclusiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley, John Maars, and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of the e-book in exchange for a fair review.

Absolutely loved this book! The role of a Super Recogniser sounds fascinating. This book was bursting with interesting and well-developed characters, which helped the story flow seamlessly. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.

DS Becca Vincent is tasked with solving a series of gruesome murders and has to work to find what links them in order to find the killer.

Helping Becca alongside the usual police team is DS Joe Russell, a super recogniser. The use of this specialism made the story stand out to me and gave it something different to the usual police procedurals.

Alongside working hard, Becca is trying to bring up her 6 years old niece after her sisters death, with a lot of help (and criticism) from her mum. This gave it human touch and again a slightly different take on a detectives story.

I enjoyed the plot and the liked the characters.

This fast-paced, easy to devour thriller begins with two brutal murders that shake the city. Detective Becca is one of the first on the scene and partners with Joe, a Met “super recognizer” with an extraordinary memory for faces. As the killer’s trail grows darker and the stakes rise, one question remains: can they stop the next strike in time?

Absolutely loved this book! Loved the role of Super Recogniser sounds fascinating. This book was bursting with interesting and well developed characters, helping the story flow seamlessly. First book I've read by this author but already lining up more of his.

Becca is a detective, wanting in on 5e big case, and is partnered with “super recognizer” Joseph to help solve a murder. But one murder turns to two, and they need to work together before many more die.

Told as both Becca, Joseph and the murderer, we learn a lot of background on each character. Each have complicated pasta that form them into the person they are. A long, but exciting story where Marrs keeps me intrigued and invested throughout. Another masterpiece by him.

A serial killer with a sadistically meticulous method for each victim is on the loose with a body count rising by the day. This was a fast-paced thriller with pulse-pounding scenes and an emotional roller coaster of a ride.

One of my favorite things about this author is that he isn't afraid to take chances. It's never a story where you know towards the climax that everything will work out. There's always something unpredictable to come, different in each one of his stories, and this one is no exception. Each character was either very likable or easily hated, all with morally gray areas. The plot was intricately woven, and the book itself was the definition of a page-turner. John Marrs has yet again created a highly entertaining, fast-paced, compelling read, and I give it four solid stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Amazon Publishing, UK, for this re-released copy of Her Last Move with an extra chapter included.

This author is a GENUIS! I love the way he writes and every book I have read which now is most of them have just left me speechless, just like his re-written book called Her Last Move by John Marrs. Now, this book was another 5 ⭐️ read and I loved it especially as I ended up reading it in one sitting just like I did when it first came out back in 2018. But, this book has a bonus chapter - an exclusive epilogue; and this was excellent! 👌

Her last move was full of twists and turns and had a very creepy vibe throughout that will have you feeling very jumpy!
Superb book!!

But, I will Advise you whilst reading this book:-

1 Don't start to read it before you go to bed or when you are just about to go out........You will find it very hard to put it down!

2. Don't read it in the dark! Every noise or shadow will have you looking over your shoulder.

I highly recommend this book especially if you have read it before or your first time reading it...... the exclusive epilogue was mind blowing and excellent. . . . . Superb read! 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

John Marrs has nailed it once again with this superb psychological thriller .This one just caught me in tight from start to finish.

He hides in plain sight. You won’t see him coming. But you’ll remember his last move forever.

Some books you read.
Others hunt you down.

Her Last Move didn’t wait for an invitation — it kicked the door down, dragged me in, and whispered secrets in the dark.

From the mastermind of thrillers, John Marrs delivers a killer so precise, so eerily invisible, it left me checking over my shoulder — and questioning everyone’s intentions. Every move is premeditated. Every death, ritualized. Every page, steeped in dread.

DS Becca Vincent is raw, real, and cracking at the seams — the kind of character who bleeds across the page and pulls you in with her. She’s balancing motherhood, ambition, and trauma — all while tracking a killer who might be watching her through the window.

Enter Joe Russell — a Super Recognizer (yes, it’s a real thing), with a near-photographic memory for faces and a past that’s just as fractured as the crimes they’re chasing. Together, they form an uneasy alliance — one that's as volatile as it is necessary.

But the clock is ticking.
And the bodies keep dropping.
I turned every page like it might be my last.

Why This Book Is Everything :

Unpredictable twists — just when I thought I found solid ground, Marrs pulled it out from under me.
Serial killer POV that gives you chills without revealing too much — think: calculated, elegant evil.
Characters with depth — this isn’t just a chase; it’s an unraveling of everyone involved.
That ending? I stopped breathing for a full minute.

Read it. Feel it. Lose sleep over it.
Marrs doesn’t just write thrillers — he orchestrates psychological warfare.

This book differs from his usual style; the plot took a while to engage me. Marrs introduces a mysterious killer without revealing his motives at first, leading to random acts of violence across Britain. It wasn't until two-thirds of the way through that the killer's motives and connections between the murders were revealed. At times, it felt like Marrs struggled with whether to portray the killer’s real intention and psyche.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
I was really looking forward to reading a John Marrs book but this one fell a little flat for me. It revolves around the police, who are trying to find a serial killer before he kills again. It jumps back and forth between the killer and the police. The story comes together at the end but I felt like for most of the book it revolves around certain characters and then it just jumps to another character in the story. This may just be my opinion and I will certainly read more of his books, as I've heard such great things about his stories.

I don’t know how John Marrs does it, but every one of his books feels like it lives in its own little universe, with completely different characters, atmospheres, and styles. And each time, he nails it!
Her Last Move is no exception. This one leans more into the traditional police procedural vibe, with the main characters being the investigators themselves. It's a shift in tone compared to his other novels, but still unmistakably Marrs: dark, twisty, and completely addictive once you're in.
To be honest, it took me a bit longer than usual to get into it. Maybe because it's more focused on the investigators and less on the victims or wider mystery, or maybe because the chapters weren’t as short and "cliffhangery" as I’ve come to expect from him (or were they?). Also worth noting: my last Marrs read was a wild one with a firecracker of a first chapter, so the contrast was real!
Still, even though I guessed one of the twists early (30 years of thrillers will do that to you ), it didn’t take away from the enjoyment at all. The story was still full of darkness, surprises, and that signature Marrs unpredictability where no one is ever truly safe. And by the end? It totally won me over! This one might have even crept up to become one of my favourites.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC of Her Last Move, complete with bonus chapter!

I love John Marrs. Just needed to get that out of the way, full disclaimer that I would read the phone directory if it was written by him.

This did not disappoint. I expected no less. Absolutely loved it. A twisty story, with shocks and surprises everywhere!

A brilliant 5 stars, bring on the next!

I would like to thank Netgalley, John Marrs, and Amazon Publishing for the ARC provided. All opinions are my own.

I am a huge John Marrs fan and was excited to get to read some of his earlier work. He doesn't disappoint!

I was the recipient of an updated version of this book which includes an additional chapter at the end. I would have enjoyed the book even without that extra bit, but it was nice to have! I always love to have a strong female character to cheer for, and DS Becca Vincent is no exception as she navigates being the mom to a special needs child while also working to get further in her police career. I enjoyed the variety of characters and the dedication to their development despite this being a suspense thriller. I really liked the twists, the ones I did see coming and those that caught me off guard. This was a great escape read!

Thank you Netgalley, John Marrs and Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer for the eArc of Her Last Move.

What do you do when the Serial Killer you are trying to bring in is one step ahead of you? As a young DS Becca Vincent this is exactly what her first big case brings. As the body counts raises, she works with Joe Russell. A Police Super Recogniser to catch a glimpse of this person who is watching them. I really enjoy John Marrs' books, mainly because he seems to be able to write in different subgenres in the main mystery and thriller one.

This one is predominantly a police protocol with some great psychological elements, especially were our Serial Killer is concerned. DS Becca Vincent has been built very well as a FMC, trying to balance her work and personal life with not much success portrays. what I can imagine, a complicated real life way of DS/DSIs in UK. I also enjoyed the dynamic between her and Joe Russell as they try and hunt down this killer.
The whole book is medium paced and engaging enough for me to read pretty much in 2 sittings with some great twists and turns which sends you on your way with a few predictions of what's going on only to have that theory blown out the water.

This book has been released with a new prologue and a cover change. Both are great additions. I also listened to the audiobook which was also great. Elizabeth Knowelden does a wonderful job of voicing and keeping the characters with their own voices and building both tension and intrigue through the dialogue.

4.25 stars for Storygraph. 4 Stars for other review sites.

This was definitely different than the other books I've read by this author. It's a police procedural, which I love this genre. But the more I read the more I saw his normal twists and veers that make it his signature style.

I'll admit it took me a minute to connect with the main character, Becca, but I finally did and I was rooting for her both personally and professionally.

The chapters from the killers pov were quite disturbing and they were quite the sick person.

And the more I read and the more information that came out about everyone, the more this fit with his other novels in spirit and types of characters. There was a moment that shocked me but I don't want to spoil anything, but you'll know when you get there.

This updated version includes a new epilogue that sheds a little more light on the previous ending that some might have thought a little open ended. It's a nice addition to story.

I was able to both listen and read and enjoyed Elizabeth Knowelden's narration. She does a great job voicing all three narrators and making the killer as disturbing as they needed to be.

I didn't realise this was an older Marrs novel.

Nonetheless I really enjoyed this dark thriller. It definitely kept the pages turning

A gory thriller which had shocking twists to it. It took a while to get in to it as so little information was given to begin with but it definitely sucks you in and makes you keep reading to find out what happens in the end.