Let me start by saying that finishing Her Last Request felt less like reading a thriller and more like dragging myself through molasses in January. I genuinely debated DNF-ing it multiple times—and I’m usually a ride-or-die type reader. The book by Mark Ayre is billed as a gripping psychological thriller, but for me, it landed with all the suspense and excitement of watching paint dry, painfully slow, confusing, and, frankly, disappointing. I went in expecting a tense, twisty mystery and came out questioning my life choices (and the editing process). It had potential, sure, but between the muddled plot, poorly drawn characters, and some truly baffling decisions (TWO characters with the same name? Really?), it became a test of endurance rather than an enjoyable read.
The Setup: Two Alexes Walk Into a Plot…
The story begins with a woman seeking help—specifically from someone named Alex. Before we can find out more, she’s dead. Enter our leads: Alex and… Alex. Yes, the two main characters share the same name. Who in their right mind thought that was a good idea? It’s confusing, annoying, and completely unnecessary. The constant need to decipher which Alex is being referenced broke any immersion I might have had.
Character Chaos: The Ostrich Roars, Apparently
Let’s start with Alex (the woman). I hated every step of her character arc. Selfish, reckless, and apparently on a mission to share irrelevant animal facts while people are dying around her. Granted, I did enjoy learning that a male ostrich roars like a lion, and yes, I’ve dropped that into casual convo twice, but that doesn’t redeem her.
Then there’s Alex (the man). Picture a walking martyr complex. Every decision he makes screams, “Look at me sacrifice everything for no real reason!” I found him just as frustrating, if not more so, than his name twin.
The Mystery That Missed
I figured out the killer well before the reveal, which would’ve been fine, had the explanation made any sense. But it didn’t. The killer’s motivations were wildly undercooked, hinging on the assumption that the reader will just accept, “They’re a sociopath, so whatever.” There was no real clarity on why the murder victim was searching for either Alex in the first place, and the supposed resolution left more questions than answers.
Editing? What Editing?
Another big issue: the editing. The prose was clunky, transitions were awkward, and grammatical slip-ups pulled me out of the story again and again. It felt like a first draft that slipped through the cracks instead of a polished final product.
Final Verdict: Just No
I see that Her Last Request has racked up some strong ratings elsewhere, and I respect that. Clearly, it found its audience. But I wasn’t it. Between the confusing naming choice, the infuriating characters, the nonsensical motivations, and the glacial pacing, this book was a chore to finish.
The one star? That’s for the ostrich fact. Nothing else.
And I add all my reviews with a music track so let’s throw one in for fun since you’re going to need something enjoyable out of this.
Sorry, Not Sorry
