Just finished ‘Her last move’ by John Marrs that is going to be re-released on the 8th of July with a brand-new cover and with a new bonus chapter.

This is the second book I’ve read by John, the first one being ‘You killed me first’ and with a lot more on my TBR and I have to say, he really is a plot twisty guy.

Becca is on her way in to work when she witnesses a man fall in front of a train, he was stumbling and then he just fell backwards in to an oncoming train. When Becca arrives at work there is a lot of buzzing going on. A murder has taken place, but when inspecting some close-ups of the victim, Becca recognizes something, the tattoo on his hand, she has seen one just like it recently. That’s it! The man that fell in front of the train has the same one! Doing her best to convince her Boss she is capable of taking a big part in this investigation. She gets to partner up with someone from a special unit; someone with photographic memory to go through the CCTV from the tube.
When the link to the victims is made another body has appeared. This time a paramedic with his eyes hanging out of their sockets; He’s in his work car parked on an industrial lot.

There are six names on the list, six names of all the people that did him wrong, the people that changed his life for the worst. Six people that have to die in unimaginable ways and he will succeed. He will succeed with every one of them, even if he has to speed things up. He has to be careful, but he’ll always be one step ahead because of his intel from within the police station. He will be seen as the hero after he is done with this, after righting all the wrongs that have been done to him.

Joe has a photographic memory, which means if he has seen a face once he’ll recognize it again in an instant. His job is to watch CCTV endlessly, putting names to a face and sometimes when out on the streets and recognizing someone that has a warrant out for his arrest, he’ll catch them. But he has an unhealthy side-Hussle, his sister disappeared 26 years ago and hasn’t been found since. In his spare-time he tries to trace her, watching CCTV from big events but he’ll even go as far as taking personal days to visit a local mall and sit there for hours, people watching. Because what if his sister has been alive all along and he has given up? Is it an unhealthy obsession? Or does he actually get to find her?

Becca has it rough, being a mom of a daughter with down syndrome and being a DC with a huge active case. In the beginning Becca had tunnel vision, not noticing what her daughter actually needs and focusing solely on the job at hand; letting her mother take care of Maisie. She and Joe become fast friends in this investigation seeing as they are both workaholics, but not getting closer to finding out who this suspect is. After five bodies being dropped, who will be number six on this list and why… why is this killer out to do such heinous crimes?

Let me tell you, you will not see it coming and tears will be shed in the end.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐, John! My god what a book.

BONUS CHAPTER EDITION.
Sometimes, you know from the first page that a book is going to be a cracker, and Her Last Move is exactly that,a tense atmosphere,strong pacing read.
The real strength of this book is how the truth is revealed in layers a snippet at a time.
Each layer of the investigation is slowly peeled back, which keeps the reader guessing, eager to keep turning the pages.
Joe is a standout character for me, a super recogniser,his unique ability is really fascinating.
The killers point of view is another aspect I loved as the author dives into their mind showing not just their actions but the emotions and grief making a different take on the story.You don't get the neat happy ever after ending you might expect for certain main characters and that's where the author excels because life is not always like that.
This delivers everything you want from a crime fiction read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the Arc.

4 stars! ⭐️
Thank you, Amazon Publishing UK, for granting my wish here on NetGalley and providing me with an eARC of the newest version of Her Last Move! 🚊💉🕵️‍♀️🩸

This is the first book I’ve read by John Marrs and I’m not disappointed! I have many of his books on my TBR and now, I can’t wait to read them all! 🤩

I really enjoyed how well-written this book was. The slower pace of dropping information was SO refreshing! I feel like a lot of thrillers that I read just jumble so much all at once and it ends up confusing me. This one didn’t do that, and I’m grateful for the steady pace! The characters were all individually interesting but Becca sometimes frustrated me with her way of thinking. Although, thankfully, she had good character development throughout the story.

Parts of this book were thrilling, some were emotional, and some were actually informative! There is one *specific* chapter I won’t be able to forget about that goes into the grim details of someone’s death. I won’t say who or how, but you’ll know after reading it! It actually made me sweat 😅 This novel had several unpredictable twists and turns! I absolutely loved it! 🫢

John Marrs can do no wrong! This story and the way it’s written feels different than his previous books but still has those great Marrs twists we all love.
It took me a little bit of time to get into. At the beginning, I felt like there was A LOT happening and I needed to keep up with which character met which side characters and had which backstory, etc. But midway through, everything started clicking and when it all came together…. Sooo good!!

It was a wild ride of a book and so sneaky. I love the POV of the killer and getting their backstory as it goes on and not just one giant explanation at the end.

There was depth to the characters and a lot of other aspects that I enjoyed being a part of the story or felt was an important/hard topic but gave more depth to the story, such a having a child with special needs, the devastation of domestic abuse, woman balancing the careers they love and the family they love + the expectations as a mother, etc).

Highly recommend!


There is a bonus chapter that I enjoyed but I found it tied it up a little too perfectly? It could have du usher with the epilogue and still been so great with a little bit of mystery.

Slow burn until about halfway through.
Did not see that death coming, (didn't like it either. Was it necessary?)
Nor did I see the plot twist. That partner....... really?

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I found this to be very different from John Marrs previous books, and it felt like it was written by a different author. I found the story boring and couldn't get invested in the characters.

Wow!

Her Last Move blew my mind - so so good!

I have read some of John's other books, that were more speculative thrillers and really enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to this one.

Her Last Move is more of a police procedural, but is trademark John - pacy, twisty, very clever and offers something a little unique, this time in the guise of police super recognisers. I must admit I didn't they actually existed, but they do - a group of people who have a photographic memory and remember 80% of faces they see. It really added a fascinating edge to the story.

It's a race against time for the police as a serial killer is terrorising London, executing gruesome murders - there seems to be a reason he's choosing his victims and they need to figure it out fast before more bodies pile up.

It opens with a bang and doesn't let up, but the last 30% or so really careers away - I literally could not tear through it fast enough, both for the plot and because I really loved and cared about the main characters, super recogniser Joe and DS Becca Vincent. They really come to life from the pages and are characterised brilliantly.

The threads all come together in the most satisfying and genius way and the ending made me gasp.

I absolutely loved it - Her Last Move is best crime thriller I have read in long time! 5 stars plus!

Detective Sargeant Becca Vincent is a working mother that attempts to balance her challenging job with her daughter. When she starts tracking a rapidly killing serial killer, she is joined by Joe Russell, a super recognizer who never forgets a face. Together they must figure out what connects all of the kills and attempt to stop the murder as he already has them in his sights.

This was my first John Marrs book and I have already requested more. This taut thriller is filled with interesting characters and an extremely calculating killer. The game of cat and mouse between the detectives and the murder is exciting and well executed. 4 stars for this scintillating thriller.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

He hides in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment. Each kill is calculated, planned and executed like clockwork. Struggling to balance her personal and professional life, young DS Becca Vincent has landed the biggest case of her career and she knows that it will make or break her. But how can she identify one face in a sea of thousands? With the help of Police Super Recogniser Joe Russell, she strives to catch a glimpse of the elusive murderer, but he’s watching her every move! Great chilling thriller! This book had great suspense, gruesome murders, mystery, intrigue, great characters and a few wild moments! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and Amazon publishing UK for sharing this book with me!

📒 ARC Release Book Review 📒

Bonus Chapter Pub Date : July 7th

🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

This is my 8th book by Marrs and honestly this author can do no wrong in my mind!!

How he can write with such diversity with his thrillers is truly mind blowing 🤯!!

Everything from Speculative Thrillers , Popcorn Thrillers, Phycological Thrillers to Police Crime !!

Her Next Move is a dark , disturbing 😳 police thriller that had me in a chokehold from the first page !

If you love police thrillers be sure to make sure you don’t have ANY plans because you’re not going to want to put this one down !

I don’t want to give too much away but Becca is a detective 🕵️‍♀️ and is working a case and partners up with Joe who has a special talent in face recognition and together they work together trying to race the against the clock before the next victim is killed !

This was a gruesome and twisty read and I really enjoyed it ..So not sure what that says about me 😳😳

Honestly Marrs could write a menu for McDonalds and I’d love it 😂😂

Thank you NetGalley , Thomas & Mercer and @johnmarrs for this ARC 🖤

John Marrs is my immediate go to author. I didn't realize that this book had already been released, but was very happy to receive an ARC, as I had not read it. As usual, I was on the edge of my seat and immersed in Marrs' writing. I really enjoyed the characters Becca and Joe. I also loved the London setting. This is a must read for any thriller fan.

4.5 stars which I will gladly round up to 5 as I could not put this book down.

Her Last Move is not for the faint hearted and is diabolically clever and will have you reading long into the night.

Expect the unexpected from John Marrs.

There is a serial killer on the loose and they are leaving a trail of bodies behind that are gruesomely murdered usually in a bizarre fashion.

DS Becca Viincent and Joe Russell a super recognizer from the police are racing against the clock to put all the pieces together but the killer is one or two steps ahead of the police.

The book is cleverly told in multiple POV's so the reader gets to know the story behind Joe, Becca and even the killer.

John Marrs takes the reader down a twisted path with Danger is around every corner and you will be holding your breath and crossing your fingers.

I needed a rest after the intensity of Her Last Move but I loved every minute of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/ Thomas & Mercer for the privilege of reading and reviewing Her Last Move.

I became totally engrossed with Her Last Move.
Scary, tense, dark and twisty.
I finished far to quickly.
I love this author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Thank you to the publisher and thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this e-ARC. Full review will be available soon

I really enjoy John Marrs books and was delighted to receive an ARC of his book Her Last Move.
I really enjoyed this thriller and was hooked from the first page to the last.
The characters were very well written and each one had an interesting story.
There is a serial killer working in London and the detective working on the case is Becca who is trying to find him before he strikes again. She is helped by Joe a super recogniser of faces who is assigned to her department temporarily.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Did I read this in the dark? yes, Did I also have to buy a nightlight? Yes but completely unrelated obviously.
A banger of a book! fast paced and keeps you on your toes until the last page!

John Marrs has once again proven that he's a master of the slow-burn thriller that lingers long after the final page. Her Last Move doesn’t just follow a killer — it shadows the emotional wreckage left in his wake, blending gritty crime drama with smart psychological suspense. What unfolds is a game of strategy and timing between a detective fighting for professional validation and a murderer who’s always one breath ahead.

The story hooked me from the start with its chilling premise: a meticulous killer stalking London, striking with almost mechanical precision. At first, the case seems like a web of coincidences, but as more bodies surface, the connections begin to emerge… and they are personal. At the center of it all is DS Becca Vincent, a detective juggling the weight of career ambition and single motherhood. She’s flawed, emotionally driven, sometimes rash — but that’s what makes her feel real. Pairing her with Joe Russell, a so-called "super recognizer" with an almost uncanny ability to remember faces, was a brilliant move. Their contrasting styles and unspoken respect made for a dynamic investigative duo.

What really worked for me was the structure — shifting POVs that gave insight into not just Becca and Joe’s inner struggles, but also the chillingly calm, calculated mind of the killer. Marrs walks that delicate line of revealing just enough without deflating the tension too soon. While the killer’s identity becomes clear earlier than expected, the why remains an unsettling mystery that kept me engaged to the final chapter.

There were moments I found Becca’s decisions frustrating, and the emotional beats between chapters could have landed harder, but overall, the depth of character building made up for it. I especially appreciated how the plot never sacrificed development for action — the pace is deliberate, never frantic, but always compelling. And when the final pieces fall into place, the payoff is worth it.

Dark, compelling, and full of psychological bite, Her Last Move is a cleverly layered procedural that reminds us even in a crowd of thousands, someone is always watching.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK / Thomas & Mercer for sharing this addictive thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts!

The way I screamed when I saw I got this ARC! I LOVE John Marrs's books!
This book did not disappoint (I knew it wouldn't). Absolutely fantastic from the first chapter. No slow plot here, just twists and turns from the outset. I read it in less than 24 hours it was just that good.

If you haven't read any of John Marrs books I would highly recommend you do!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, John Marrs and Amazon Publishing UK / Thomas & Mercer📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

okay WOW—Her Last Move by John Marrs was a total rollercoaster. if you like your thrillers fast, dark, and full of twists, this one delivers big time 👏

you’ve got a serial killer with a pattern, a detective with secrets, and timelines that keep the pace flying. every time i thought i had it figured out… nope. Marrs does not hold back.

creepy, clever, and addictive. short chapters, big payoffs, and an ending that punches you in the gut. 🚨 definitely one of my fave John Marrs reads yet.