The Last Request

by Katherine Burlake

Amy Prowers hadn't planned on jetting off to the Balkans. She hadn't planned on having her life turned upside down or being held hostage. No, Amy Prowers hadn't planned on abandoning her career... and becoming a seeker of fulfilling her father's last request. The request that had the words be careful who you trust. Benton Prowers' death in a suspicious plane crash has changed Amy’s life. His words, “be careful who you trust,” lead her on a quest to uncover the real Shroud and if it isn't in Turin as the Catholic Church believes...where is it? In the second Amy Prowers novel, Amy is caught up in a web of deceit, scandal, and terror that threatens her and everyone around her. Will Medak, the young monk at the monastery, help Amy understand the clues her father hid in the icon book...or should she trust him? Will El Ben Alemien, the evil North African leader, know that Amy is pretending to know where the Shroud is hidden at the Gracanica Monastery? Will Christianity as it exists today, be able to survive when the truth comes out? In a sweeping current day global suspense thriller, The Last Request takes you behind the scenes in a tense drama-filled story that is enveloped in mystery, intrigue, and religion.

Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2020

Reviews

[Lexie Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to really like this given the history and locations but it was not my favorite. The characters were interesting and there was somewhat of a chase but for me not enough details to make the chase make sense until the last few chapters. I was also not in favor of some of the abrupt end to the storylines that seemed to pop up randomly later on… it seemed scattered.

[Linnea Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Request by Katherine Burlake is an international thriller with strong elements of Nazi alternative history in the Amy Prowlers Thriller series. The story begins when Amy Prowlers tries to fulfill the last request of her father, who was mysteriously killed in a plane crash, to find the real Shroud of Turin. The clues in the request steer Amy to the Gracania Monastery in Kosovo. There, a monk shows Amy around the monastery and helps her to understand the meaning of icons. After they find another clue hidden behind one of the icons, Amy begins a dangerous journey around the world to find the Shroud of Turin. What she doesn't expect to find is her family's involvement with the Nazis and their conspiracy to escape Germany with treasured art at the end of World II. Also simmering behind the scenes is a political intrigue to use the Shroud of Turin as a way to control the entire region of Northern Africa.

Katherine Burlake's novel is not a traditional fast-action thriller, but it is a complex, cerebral tale. A reader enters the minds of several characters who provide different perspectives to the backstory. The alternative history of Nazis attempting to escape with famous artifacts and the sudden disappearance of people involved in the scheme are the most interesting facets of the story. The author vividly describes each location and culture in which each scene takes place. The downside of the novel is the story is told from multiple viewpoints, often within the same scene, which at times disrupt the pacing and clarity of the events.

I recommend The Last Request for readers interested in alternative Nazi conspiracy theories and historical background of regions and famous artifacts.

[TJ Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

History and mystery

This book puts an interesting spin on history. The visual imagery is stunning and the plot is captivating. A very good read for anyone.

[pamela boseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last request

I like this book, the characters were entertaining, the storyline great and kept you reading to the end. Will be reading more books by this author.

[David McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Last Request" is a book for the lover of adventure, international intrigue and history. I especially enjoyed the pictures painted by the prose.