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DCI Michael Yorke Thriller #1
One Last Prayer
The disappearance of a young boy. An investigation paved with depravity and death. Can DCI Michael Yorke survive with his body and soul intact?
With Yorke's small town in the grip of a destructive snowstorm, the relentless detective uncovers a missing boy’s connection to the Rays, a deranged family whose history is steeped in violence. But when all seems lost, Yorke refuses to give in, and journeys deep into the heart of this sinister family for the truth.
And what he discovers there will tear his world apart.
The Rays are here. It's time to start praying.
One Last Prayer is the first novel in the shocking and exhilarating bestselling Detective Yorke series. If you like intense thrillers, flawed detectives and complex killers, then you'll love Wes Markin’s dark and twisty series. Perfect for fans of L.J. Ross, Peter James, Jo Nesbo, Chris Brookmyre, and Stuart Macbride.
With Yorke's small town in the grip of a destructive snowstorm, the relentless detective uncovers a missing boy’s connection to the Rays, a deranged family whose history is steeped in violence. But when all seems lost, Yorke refuses to give in, and journeys deep into the heart of this sinister family for the truth.
And what he discovers there will tear his world apart.
The Rays are here. It's time to start praying.
One Last Prayer is the first novel in the shocking and exhilarating bestselling Detective Yorke series. If you like intense thrillers, flawed detectives and complex killers, then you'll love Wes Markin’s dark and twisty series. Perfect for fans of L.J. Ross, Peter James, Jo Nesbo, Chris Brookmyre, and Stuart Macbride.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2019
2661 people are currently reading
1540 people want to read
About the author
Wes Markin
35 books227 followersBe sure to follow Wes on BookBub for the latest on sales: bit.ly/3tFWIHL
Wes Markin lives in Harrogate and is the bestselling author of the DCI Yorke crime novels set in Salisbury. He is also the author of the Jake Pettman series set in New England.
Wes Markin lives in Harrogate and is the bestselling author of the DCI Yorke crime novels set in Salisbury. He is also the author of the Jake Pettman series set in New England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 304 reviews
February 19, 2019
5☆ Gave me the Heebie Jeebies I couldn't Put it Down!
One Last Prayer for the Rays is a chilling cat and mouse crime thriller, that got under my skin and at times gave me the Heebie Jeebies.
I am really not sure how to go about writing my review as this book is so good, I don't want to risk giving anything away.
It's twisty, dark, gritty, gripping and exciting, the characters are eclectic, complex, sinister, deeply flawed but wow do they get under your skin.
The police procedural was cleverly written and believable, it was a gritty cat and mouse, race against the clock.
My only niggle was trying to keep up and work out who was who with the police detectives, the main detective DCI Michael Yorke, was a strong character who I really liked. (I really hope there is more to come from Yorke as i can see his character going from strength to strength)
He was determined, fair and head strong.
But there was a good cast of supporting detectives that I did tend to get a lil mixed up with. But that did not hinder my utter enjoyment.
When I read the blurb and see the book cover for this book, I wasn't 100% sure what to expect.
But wow! I get spooked/ scared easily which is mad the amount of thriller books I read, but the ones I love the best are the ones that creep me out, make me feel uneasy, a lil on edge.
For example a crazed kidnapper taunting the parents by wearing a pig mask and smearing pig blood down their window freaked the hell out of me! Lol
This exactly how Wes Markin made me feel.
He created a dark, sinister atmospheric crime thriller that completely absorbed me.
This book is full of betrayal, dark secrets, lies, family drama and dark history (and that's putting it a lil mildly) the Rays are a twisted, crazy, sinister, some might say psychopath family. But wow do they make fantastic characters....which you will literally love to hate.
One Last Prayer for the Rays is a chilling dark atmospheric crime thriller, that is twisted, gripping, creepy, a strong police procedural, with a twisting plot that I didn't see coming.
Which made for a compulsive and intoxicating read that got under my skin and had me turning pages long into the night
This is my first book I have read by Wes Markin and he is definitely going on my to watch out for list!
Would I recommend reading this compelling read?..... 100% YES!!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
One Last Prayer for the Rays is a chilling cat and mouse crime thriller, that got under my skin and at times gave me the Heebie Jeebies.
I am really not sure how to go about writing my review as this book is so good, I don't want to risk giving anything away.
It's twisty, dark, gritty, gripping and exciting, the characters are eclectic, complex, sinister, deeply flawed but wow do they get under your skin.
The police procedural was cleverly written and believable, it was a gritty cat and mouse, race against the clock.
My only niggle was trying to keep up and work out who was who with the police detectives, the main detective DCI Michael Yorke, was a strong character who I really liked. (I really hope there is more to come from Yorke as i can see his character going from strength to strength)
He was determined, fair and head strong.
But there was a good cast of supporting detectives that I did tend to get a lil mixed up with. But that did not hinder my utter enjoyment.
When I read the blurb and see the book cover for this book, I wasn't 100% sure what to expect.
But wow! I get spooked/ scared easily which is mad the amount of thriller books I read, but the ones I love the best are the ones that creep me out, make me feel uneasy, a lil on edge.
For example a crazed kidnapper taunting the parents by wearing a pig mask and smearing pig blood down their window freaked the hell out of me! Lol
This exactly how Wes Markin made me feel.
He created a dark, sinister atmospheric crime thriller that completely absorbed me.
This book is full of betrayal, dark secrets, lies, family drama and dark history (and that's putting it a lil mildly) the Rays are a twisted, crazy, sinister, some might say psychopath family. But wow do they make fantastic characters....which you will literally love to hate.
One Last Prayer for the Rays is a chilling dark atmospheric crime thriller, that is twisted, gripping, creepy, a strong police procedural, with a twisting plot that I didn't see coming.
Which made for a compulsive and intoxicating read that got under my skin and had me turning pages long into the night
This is my first book I have read by Wes Markin and he is definitely going on my to watch out for list!
Would I recommend reading this compelling read?..... 100% YES!!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
February 10, 2019
I found this book so gripping I read it in next to no time. It's such a page turner. The action starts right from the beginning when 12 year old Paul Ray is kidnapped from school and doesn't let up at any point. It's a good job that the focus of the story is about finding a 12 year old because his family are all horrible. When another family member goes missing it's hard to care and yet another is a killer in their own right.
There's a lot going on around the kidnap. People are killed, a police officer is stalked and their wife threatened. Everyone seems to be a potential suspect. The whodunnit is revealed quite a bit before the end and from that point it's a race to save Paul and capture the killer except then we have a twist! Told you it was full on. This though is why I loved it, it's impossible to get bored. It's not a long book so each word is used to maximum potential.
While it's not overly descriptive with some of the murder scenes it's written in such a way that it's not difficult to picture exactly what happened and you know it's graphic. I liked being guided to this rather than with some authors just being told what happened in detail. It added an extra layer for me.
Overall a real fast paced book, very much a page turner and I loved it. I can't wait to raed the next one.
There's a lot going on around the kidnap. People are killed, a police officer is stalked and their wife threatened. Everyone seems to be a potential suspect. The whodunnit is revealed quite a bit before the end and from that point it's a race to save Paul and capture the killer except then we have a twist! Told you it was full on. This though is why I loved it, it's impossible to get bored. It's not a long book so each word is used to maximum potential.
While it's not overly descriptive with some of the murder scenes it's written in such a way that it's not difficult to picture exactly what happened and you know it's graphic. I liked being guided to this rather than with some authors just being told what happened in detail. It added an extra layer for me.
Overall a real fast paced book, very much a page turner and I loved it. I can't wait to raed the next one.
April 3, 2019
When 12-year-old Paul Ray goes missing from school, Detective Michael York and his team are called in to investigate. But this may be more than just a child playing hooky ... in the restroom is a pool of blood .. and the words IN THE BLOOD painted on the wall in that blood.
Everyone is the village knows of the Ray family. For years ... generations .. they've all been pig farmers and more than that .... at least one member of the family in each generation has been demented .. or just plain evil.
The most obvious suspect is Thomas Ray .. who has recently been released from prison for murder. And Yorke has a connection. But when they find Thomas dead ... Yorke and his team have to delve through the family history to find all the people who may have a grudge against the family.
Where is the boy? Is he still alive? Or a pawn in a bigger. more evil game?
WOW! The story starts with a bang and the suspense just grows and grows until the surprising ending. The characters are memorable and I'm looking forward to discovering more about Yorke in the next books.
Many thanks to the author / BooksGoSocial / Netgalley / TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for the digital copy of this awesome crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 2, 2019
The story starts off with a bang, literally. From that point on I was hooked.
I have to say I really enjoyed the story line throughout this novel. The Ray family are well known and not for good reason. They have a history of not being so nice and have built up a lot of enemies. I didn’t envy the police one bit trying to find Thomas Ray’s killer especially as there are plenty of suspects.
There are so many unlikable characters throughout this story. Some that are down right evil and others that are just totally psycho. Luckily there are some good people, especially in the police force, which helps balance it out. I have to say the baddies make it so much fun though as I just never knew what they were going to do next.
One Last Prayer For The Rays is a dark and chilling read. There were lots of parts that are left to the imagination that shocked and horrified me but I so enjoyed them all. It’s hard to say to much without spoiling it for other readers but I loved the setting for some of the story as it really did make the hairs on my arms stand up. Can’t wait for more of DCI Michael Yorke and his team. A thoroughly entertaining and addictive read.
My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I have to say I really enjoyed the story line throughout this novel. The Ray family are well known and not for good reason. They have a history of not being so nice and have built up a lot of enemies. I didn’t envy the police one bit trying to find Thomas Ray’s killer especially as there are plenty of suspects.
There are so many unlikable characters throughout this story. Some that are down right evil and others that are just totally psycho. Luckily there are some good people, especially in the police force, which helps balance it out. I have to say the baddies make it so much fun though as I just never knew what they were going to do next.
One Last Prayer For The Rays is a dark and chilling read. There were lots of parts that are left to the imagination that shocked and horrified me but I so enjoyed them all. It’s hard to say to much without spoiling it for other readers but I loved the setting for some of the story as it really did make the hairs on my arms stand up. Can’t wait for more of DCI Michael Yorke and his team. A thoroughly entertaining and addictive read.
My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
October 4, 2019
4.5 ⭐️ As anyone who follows my blog will know I do love a crime thriller that veers towards the dark side, and One Last Prayer by Wes Markin fitted the bill perfectly, it’s brutal, gritty with more than a touch of the macabre. One Last Prayer For The Rays opens with a hell of a bang, and from that moment on the author holds you in his clutches with a gripping story, that’s shocking, gory, and so deliciously twisted
The story centres on 12-year-old Paul Ray who disappears from school, from a distance the Ray family could be seen as a generation of pig farmers, and nothing more, but delve into their murky and flawed family tree and you will find generation upon generation of depraved psychopaths, the kind that emit evil from every pore, where violence is the norm, and remorse is a word that doesn’t feature in their vocabulary! Dysfunctional doesn’t even come close to describing this family, but one things for sure their a family you won’t forget in a hurry. One Last Prayer For The Rays is a strong police procedure, fast paced read that gets darker and more tangled with each turn of the page. which made for a compulsive and thrilling read.
If you are looking for a cosy Murder mystery then this definitely isn’t the book for you, but if you’re a crime thriller whose not adverse the the occasional gory scene then this one’s definitely for you. An incredibly strong debut and one to read with the lights on. This is the first book I read by Wes Markin, but it definitely won’t be my last.
The story centres on 12-year-old Paul Ray who disappears from school, from a distance the Ray family could be seen as a generation of pig farmers, and nothing more, but delve into their murky and flawed family tree and you will find generation upon generation of depraved psychopaths, the kind that emit evil from every pore, where violence is the norm, and remorse is a word that doesn’t feature in their vocabulary! Dysfunctional doesn’t even come close to describing this family, but one things for sure their a family you won’t forget in a hurry. One Last Prayer For The Rays is a strong police procedure, fast paced read that gets darker and more tangled with each turn of the page. which made for a compulsive and thrilling read.
If you are looking for a cosy Murder mystery then this definitely isn’t the book for you, but if you’re a crime thriller whose not adverse the the occasional gory scene then this one’s definitely for you. An incredibly strong debut and one to read with the lights on. This is the first book I read by Wes Markin, but it definitely won’t be my last.
June 3, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
This debut mystery novel, also the beginning of a new series, has many good and also some weak points.
Without going into too much detail, the author succeeded in creating a haunting horror atmosphere, a plot full of thrilling suspense charged with tension. There are many subplots in the story to deal with, many different characters, but it doesn't feel overloaded, as one could guess.
Short chapters, the ongoing scene change, all this make the novel to a real page-turner and a thrill-packed ride.
What I missed was a good structured police procedural. There was an investigation team, but there wasn't a real investigation IMO. Everything happened somehow by chance. I'd like to see more of DCI Michael Yorke as a team leader, the whole investigation felt partly amateurish.
Overall a thrilling read with a creepy atmosphere and many evil characters to loathe. Be prepared!
***ARC provided kindly by the author via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
April 10, 2019
ONE LAST PRAYER FOR THE RAYS is the first book in a new crime fiction series, featuring DCI Michael Yorke, by author Wes Markin. This novel provides non-stop action. Hold on tight as this is a new author to watch out for!
Novels in the DCI Michael Yorke Thriller Series Include:
One Last Prayer For The Rays (Book 1) Published February 11th 2019
The Repenting Serpent (Book 2) Expected publication: June 14th 2019
Children should be safe at school…but not this time.
DCI Michael Yorke is assigned to one of the worse cases in his career; the case of a 12-year-old Paul Ray, a good student from a comfortable home life, who disappears from school. Yorke’s only clue is a pool of animal blood. Fearing the worst, he turns toward the most obvious suspect, recently released local murderer, Thomas Ray. Thomas Ray had been a pig farmer most of his life…and evil in character.
Then Thomas’s mutilated body is discovered, and Yorke and his team are forced to dig deeper into the history of this family.
One Last Prayer For The Rays is a dark and chilling read. With an array of characters some good, some wackos but mostly evil and despicable, this novel will intrigue a wide variety of readers. Sit back and enjoy this suspenseful read.
Many thanks to the author and the TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
Novels in the DCI Michael Yorke Thriller Series Include:
One Last Prayer For The Rays (Book 1) Published February 11th 2019
The Repenting Serpent (Book 2) Expected publication: June 14th 2019
Children should be safe at school…but not this time.
DCI Michael Yorke is assigned to one of the worse cases in his career; the case of a 12-year-old Paul Ray, a good student from a comfortable home life, who disappears from school. Yorke’s only clue is a pool of animal blood. Fearing the worst, he turns toward the most obvious suspect, recently released local murderer, Thomas Ray. Thomas Ray had been a pig farmer most of his life…and evil in character.
Then Thomas’s mutilated body is discovered, and Yorke and his team are forced to dig deeper into the history of this family.
One Last Prayer For The Rays is a dark and chilling read. With an array of characters some good, some wackos but mostly evil and despicable, this novel will intrigue a wide variety of readers. Sit back and enjoy this suspenseful read.
Many thanks to the author and the TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
February 14, 2019
The first book in a series always brings a lot of new people that you have to get to know on the scene. Sometimes it might be a bit distracting you from the storyline, but the author certainly did not let that happen.
Jeez Louise, the opener hit bull’s eye straight away and nothing could stop me from being dragged into the story. The whole way through there was suspense, but a creepy kind of suspense that made the chills run down my spine.
It was a very fast paced and dark book, but oh so good. Sometimes I had to swallow a few times before I could go on. The author did a splendid job in being not to descriptive but leaving it all to the reader’s mind to see it they way they wanted it to see. I have a rather vivid imagination, so … do I need to say more? LOL.
I hope the second book will be published soon. I am looking forward to it and I guess you will be too once you have devoured this one.
Thank you, Wes Markin and Rachels Random Resources.
Book received courtesy of publisher/author.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Jeez Louise, the opener hit bull’s eye straight away and nothing could stop me from being dragged into the story. The whole way through there was suspense, but a creepy kind of suspense that made the chills run down my spine.
It was a very fast paced and dark book, but oh so good. Sometimes I had to swallow a few times before I could go on. The author did a splendid job in being not to descriptive but leaving it all to the reader’s mind to see it they way they wanted it to see. I have a rather vivid imagination, so … do I need to say more? LOL.
I hope the second book will be published soon. I am looking forward to it and I guess you will be too once you have devoured this one.
Thank you, Wes Markin and Rachels Random Resources.
Book received courtesy of publisher/author.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
February 10, 2019
I'm so glad I got to read this crime thriller! It proved to be a real page turner that I was enthralled by and really didn't want to put down until I'd reached the end. It is a story which starts with a lethal bang resulting in murder, sharing the demented thoughts of the perpetrator and introducing the reader to one of the family at the heart of this investigation. That had me hooked for the very beginning . . . then, to confound issues, that is followed by the mysterious disappearance, from his school, of a twelve year old school boy, leaving a pool of blood behind him.
The detective investigating this is DCI Michael Yorke and I found the whole story an intriguing and excellently written story that kept me guessing right until the twist I never saw coming at the end. The characters are all well developed, with some just unlikeable whilst others are totally insane, counterbalanced by the exemplary members of the police force and a few others. Regardless of their nature, the author brings them all to life in the story, creating connections between them and the reader as the story unfolds, revealing hints and clues along the way. I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author in future and have no hesitation in highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys superb crime thrillers.
I requested and was given a copy of this book, via Rachel's Random Resources. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
The detective investigating this is DCI Michael Yorke and I found the whole story an intriguing and excellently written story that kept me guessing right until the twist I never saw coming at the end. The characters are all well developed, with some just unlikeable whilst others are totally insane, counterbalanced by the exemplary members of the police force and a few others. Regardless of their nature, the author brings them all to life in the story, creating connections between them and the reader as the story unfolds, revealing hints and clues along the way. I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author in future and have no hesitation in highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys superb crime thrillers.
I requested and was given a copy of this book, via Rachel's Random Resources. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.
August 10, 2019
This book had me from the get-go, it was bloody intense way to start a book with the opening chapter. I mean it was ominous from the start, and then bam it’s go go go and it feels like you are on a rollercoaster that you don’t know if it is ever going to end.
Now I want to make one thing clear here, I do have quite a strong stomach when it comes to gore. I don’t like gore and the only thing that truly unsettles me is paranormal stuff or the scene in the Ring when she climbs out the tv and is all twitchy! So it does take a lot to unsettle me and turn my stomach. Well one particular scene in this book when the Rays are watching a video and the crazy man in the pig mask is acting out some awful violence to some pigs, truly did my stomach turn. I think it’s because I have a thing about pigs! The idea of a whole huge group of them terrifies me, a bit like In Hannibal with Mason Verger and his boar farm. Horrible!
This book has been marked as the first in the series for DCI Michael Yorke and this makes me so happy and really excited. The story itself is relentless and riveting. It’s dark and gruesome and violent and I was delighted, although do not panic I’m not about to turn into a mass murderer or anything !!! It was the type of book I needed after the boy has gone back away for another 3 months, I think if I read a light and fluffy book I would be in bits. So for the few hours, it took me to read this I was engrossed.
I had my theories to who kidnapped Paul and I can safely say I did not work it out and the what unravelled was even crazier then I could have imagined and it worked!
I love that it was set in Salisbury, having lived in Tidworth for a few years I knew some of the areas that were mentioned in the book which added a bit of a thrill for me!
I can safely say that Mr Markin has a new fan with me and I can not wait to see what happens next! Especially with an open-ended story as this one.
August 27, 2019
"Shatters the idyll"
Wiltshire is a county that has a criminal element, but it's not the Wild West. Maybe there's going to be a rash of thriller series centred on this rural idyll. It will become like Midsomer Murders. Somewhere you never want to move to with the highest death rate in the country. Maybe the big cities were getting swamped by crime writers researching new settings. This is an excellent chiller, with pace, violence and strong characters. The only question I ask is - how does a relatively unknown writer get so many top names to review his books? There are thousands of others out there begging for readers to give them a try. Indeed, the author of this book writes of the need for a shed load of money to make an impact with your marketing, and reviews are the writer's lifeblood. Ain't that the truth. Maybe the mainstream publishers are using this tactic to squeeze the true indie. Money talks yet again.
Wiltshire is a county that has a criminal element, but it's not the Wild West. Maybe there's going to be a rash of thriller series centred on this rural idyll. It will become like Midsomer Murders. Somewhere you never want to move to with the highest death rate in the country. Maybe the big cities were getting swamped by crime writers researching new settings. This is an excellent chiller, with pace, violence and strong characters. The only question I ask is - how does a relatively unknown writer get so many top names to review his books? There are thousands of others out there begging for readers to give them a try. Indeed, the author of this book writes of the need for a shed load of money to make an impact with your marketing, and reviews are the writer's lifeblood. Ain't that the truth. Maybe the mainstream publishers are using this tactic to squeeze the true indie. Money talks yet again.
February 11, 2019
Talk about an action packed read... I couldn’t read this quick enough. From start to finish I was engrossed.
When a young school boy goes missing it’s up to DCI Michael Yorke to investigate. In doing so he gets to know more about the Ray family.
What an amazing set of characters. Opposite ends of the likeable chart lol
This story is action packed. I didn’t want it to end. What started as a quick chapter in the afternoon turned into me totally engrossed in the story and reading in one sitting. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
When a young school boy goes missing it’s up to DCI Michael Yorke to investigate. In doing so he gets to know more about the Ray family.
What an amazing set of characters. Opposite ends of the likeable chart lol
This story is action packed. I didn’t want it to end. What started as a quick chapter in the afternoon turned into me totally engrossed in the story and reading in one sitting. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
August 12, 2025
Right up my street, this one. Dark, gritty, and with just enough depravity to make you check the locks before bed. Markin wastes no time and this book gallops from the first page and barely lets up.
DCI York is shaping up to be a cracking lead. I’ve a feeling we’ve only scratched the surface with him and there’s definitely more lurking in his past and I’m keen to dig deeper in the next instalment. The rest of the cast, was solid, but I’ll be honest, I did get a bit tangled up keeping track of all the coppers now and again.
What really worked for me was how the history of the deranged Ray family bled into the present-day case. Full of thoroughly unlikeable characters and suspects.
Did I see the big twist coming? unfortunately yeah. Bit of a shame, that, but it didn’t ruin the drama.
A strong crime story, tightly told, and worth a solid 4 stars from me.
DCI York is shaping up to be a cracking lead. I’ve a feeling we’ve only scratched the surface with him and there’s definitely more lurking in his past and I’m keen to dig deeper in the next instalment. The rest of the cast, was solid, but I’ll be honest, I did get a bit tangled up keeping track of all the coppers now and again.
What really worked for me was how the history of the deranged Ray family bled into the present-day case. Full of thoroughly unlikeable characters and suspects.
Did I see the big twist coming? unfortunately yeah. Bit of a shame, that, but it didn’t ruin the drama.
A strong crime story, tightly told, and worth a solid 4 stars from me.
October 14, 2020
Very little in the way of character development. DCI Yorke is supposed to be the main character, but we learn way more about the villains than we learn about him. We know more about one of his assistants than we do about him (admittedly his assistant's life plays into the main plot, but that was not necessary and is not resolved by the end of the book).
The murders that define the book are gruesome and only loosely related to each other. In fact, the focus seems to be on how gruesome the killings are as opposed to the motivation behind them. Maybe this has to do with my expectations of a police novel, but there is very little about the detective work and a lot about the murders. There is quite a bit about the villains - but not really enough to explain their actions. We are left with huge, gaping holes in why this or that individual is acting the way they are. There are hints that there is, in fact, some explanation - but never enough information to understand what that explanation might be. One villain is incredibly dedicated - but seems to be completely unrelated to the others, though acting on their behalf.
Very disappointing. I will not be reading any of the other books in the series.
The murders that define the book are gruesome and only loosely related to each other. In fact, the focus seems to be on how gruesome the killings are as opposed to the motivation behind them. Maybe this has to do with my expectations of a police novel, but there is very little about the detective work and a lot about the murders. There is quite a bit about the villains - but not really enough to explain their actions. We are left with huge, gaping holes in why this or that individual is acting the way they are. There are hints that there is, in fact, some explanation - but never enough information to understand what that explanation might be. One villain is incredibly dedicated - but seems to be completely unrelated to the others, though acting on their behalf.
Very disappointing. I will not be reading any of the other books in the series.
February 25, 2019
Full review: http://swiftcoffee.blog/2019/02/13/bl...
This book is such an incredibly strong debut that I actually mistook it for one that an author with more published stories behind them would write. Literally. There was a moment when I thought wow, I'd so love to read everything this author has written - and I went on Goodreads to see what else is out there. That's when I realized that this is a debut novel. (I probably already knew that, and then forgot, though.) That's how good it is.
I love how it is a mixture between a 'normal' thriller (where we get to see the victims' and villains' thoughts and feelings and experiences) and a police procedural (where we see into the investigation as well as the private lives/thoughts and relations between detectives and other staff). It worked really well, and helped avoid being too much of a cliché. I loved the characters (or loved hating some of them), their motives were believable and heart-wrenching sometimes, and even in the cases of right-out psychos they were psychologically understandable (though their actions were ones that a psychologically whole and healthy person would never, ever understand...or stomach). The story had so many twists and turns, and may I say many storylines, that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, yet it was completely easy to follow. It was a very exciting ride!
I wouldn't say the wording is exceptional or unique (though it really is good), but it matched the story and atmosphere exceptionally and it helped me getting into the mood and the fast unfolding of the story.
This book is such an incredibly strong debut that I actually mistook it for one that an author with more published stories behind them would write. Literally. There was a moment when I thought wow, I'd so love to read everything this author has written - and I went on Goodreads to see what else is out there. That's when I realized that this is a debut novel. (I probably already knew that, and then forgot, though.) That's how good it is.
I love how it is a mixture between a 'normal' thriller (where we get to see the victims' and villains' thoughts and feelings and experiences) and a police procedural (where we see into the investigation as well as the private lives/thoughts and relations between detectives and other staff). It worked really well, and helped avoid being too much of a cliché. I loved the characters (or loved hating some of them), their motives were believable and heart-wrenching sometimes, and even in the cases of right-out psychos they were psychologically understandable (though their actions were ones that a psychologically whole and healthy person would never, ever understand...or stomach). The story had so many twists and turns, and may I say many storylines, that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, yet it was completely easy to follow. It was a very exciting ride!
I wouldn't say the wording is exceptional or unique (though it really is good), but it matched the story and atmosphere exceptionally and it helped me getting into the mood and the fast unfolding of the story.
May 22, 2024
This was a fantastic Book!
DCI Michael Yorke and his team are in the hunt for a kidnapped boy, taken seemingly at will, from his school...But why would he just leave with someone? As Yorke and team search for the boy, other Family members also disappear. First the Dad, taken away by a huge man wearing a pig mask, A real pig mask, and then she the mother can go to wear her son and husband are, she to ends up captive.
The Ray Family has a long and very troubled past, and the boy, father and mother are all Ray Family. So who, who has a vendetta against this blood line?
Lacy Ray, the last in line of this sadistic Family is doing her own killing, she really seems to love to kill, change identity and do it all again.
One Last Prayer is a 5 star book!
DCI Michael Yorke and his team are in the hunt for a kidnapped boy, taken seemingly at will, from his school...But why would he just leave with someone? As Yorke and team search for the boy, other Family members also disappear. First the Dad, taken away by a huge man wearing a pig mask, A real pig mask, and then she the mother can go to wear her son and husband are, she to ends up captive.
The Ray Family has a long and very troubled past, and the boy, father and mother are all Ray Family. So who, who has a vendetta against this blood line?
Lacy Ray, the last in line of this sadistic Family is doing her own killing, she really seems to love to kill, change identity and do it all again.
One Last Prayer is a 5 star book!
August 2, 2019
When Paul Ray disappears from school and a large amount of blood is found in the boys toilets, the police are called in quickly. Where has he gone and is he still alive, bearing in mind the amount of blood. Is it a coincidence that the missing boy is one of the Ray family?
A fantastic start to a new series. Great descriptive writing with brilliant detail of the Salisbury area. There were plenty of twists in the story and a lot of tension. Great characters that I enjoyed reading about and getting to know along the way. I couldn’t put this book down and I am looking forward to reading the second in the series. I highly recommend this book.
A fantastic start to a new series. Great descriptive writing with brilliant detail of the Salisbury area. There were plenty of twists in the story and a lot of tension. Great characters that I enjoyed reading about and getting to know along the way. I couldn’t put this book down and I am looking forward to reading the second in the series. I highly recommend this book.
June 12, 2019
This is no humdrum parochial British police procedural – in fact, with all the pigs, blood, gore, kidnapping and brutality it’s more like Hannibal than Morse. Which of course snagged my attention at the get-go…
The gruesome abduction of a loner schoolboy is just the start of a deftly executed campaign of revenge against an oddball farming family. Plenty of people have very good reasons to hate the Rays – including at least one disgraced copper, whose DNA turns up in a most compromising location.
Author Wes Markin keeps you on your toes as his story ducks and weaves, landing sucker punches that you don’t see coming. The juxtaposition of calculated cruelty against the backdrop of small-town southern England is especially effective. One minute we’re sympathising with a DCI whose angry wife has banished him to the sofa-bed… the next we’re with a vengeful Valkyrie who’s snipping off fingers with pruning shears.
Although the police investigators were a bit too whitebread to make much of an impression on me, the dysfunctional Ray family were entirely intriguing. The best of them is an icily effective, malignant narcissist – an escort with a penchant for administering pain and punishment. Lacey Ray is a compelling character and her ‘Blue Room’ is a strikingly original invention. She brought a fresh (if deathly) breath of sub-zero air to proceedings.
The book's editing was sloppy which let it down, and tighter attention to detail could’ve turned a good book into a great one. Yet again, I’ll remind authors that victims of crime do not 'press charges' in the UK.
It also appears that both Lecter and Luther must’ve been rattling around the writer’s mind when this book was brewing, and overt influences from both are apparent. That’s no bad thing: the result is a tense thriller with a couple of killer characters, and some truly unexpected outcomes.
7/10
There's more details about this book and many other crime-thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
The gruesome abduction of a loner schoolboy is just the start of a deftly executed campaign of revenge against an oddball farming family. Plenty of people have very good reasons to hate the Rays – including at least one disgraced copper, whose DNA turns up in a most compromising location.
Author Wes Markin keeps you on your toes as his story ducks and weaves, landing sucker punches that you don’t see coming. The juxtaposition of calculated cruelty against the backdrop of small-town southern England is especially effective. One minute we’re sympathising with a DCI whose angry wife has banished him to the sofa-bed… the next we’re with a vengeful Valkyrie who’s snipping off fingers with pruning shears.
Although the police investigators were a bit too whitebread to make much of an impression on me, the dysfunctional Ray family were entirely intriguing. The best of them is an icily effective, malignant narcissist – an escort with a penchant for administering pain and punishment. Lacey Ray is a compelling character and her ‘Blue Room’ is a strikingly original invention. She brought a fresh (if deathly) breath of sub-zero air to proceedings.
The book's editing was sloppy which let it down, and tighter attention to detail could’ve turned a good book into a great one. Yet again, I’ll remind authors that victims of crime do not 'press charges' in the UK.
It also appears that both Lecter and Luther must’ve been rattling around the writer’s mind when this book was brewing, and overt influences from both are apparent. That’s no bad thing: the result is a tense thriller with a couple of killer characters, and some truly unexpected outcomes.
7/10
There's more details about this book and many other crime-thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
October 11, 2021
A good enough read, and I know why so many people are fan of this series. For me, it didn't work as I would have liked. I found parts of the story rather confusing and sometimes I got lost between all the characters. There was too much cruelty to animals in it too - I don't want to read about any cruelty to animals, ever. I tried to forget those scenes but it is hard. The book thus felt rather unbalanced; on the one hand Yorke is an interesting character, and the plot wasn't too bad, on the other hand too much violence and too many characters without real depth.
February 15, 2019
I could not put One Last Prayer for the Rays down and I finished it in one sitting. It's gripping, action-packed and it's a page-turner.
There's so much I want to say about this book, but I also don't want to spoil anything. Wes Markin has created a really high energy novel that I just want to rave about everywhere. I loved the characters, the mystery...really everything.
I can't find anything to complain about with this one. It's a solid novel that keeps you glued to the pages. Highly recommended.
*I read this as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
There's so much I want to say about this book, but I also don't want to spoil anything. Wes Markin has created a really high energy novel that I just want to rave about everywhere. I loved the characters, the mystery...really everything.
I can't find anything to complain about with this one. It's a solid novel that keeps you glued to the pages. Highly recommended.
*I read this as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
January 11, 2019
This was action packed from the start. It was a real page turner. There are some characters that I really felt for. others I knew were wrong-uns!
I stayed up waay later than I should have to finish this book and I can't wait to find out what the next case for DCI Yorke is.
I stayed up waay later than I should have to finish this book and I can't wait to find out what the next case for DCI Yorke is.
January 11, 2019
This crime/thriller story had me hooked from the very beginning. It is full of action and suspense right from chapter one which made it an exciting read. I highly recommend this to anyone who is in to action packed thrillers which keep holy guessing all the way through! Great read!
July 31, 2019
Excellent page turner
My wife and I honeymooned in England and enjoyed Salisbury. When I realized where this book was set, I got into it quickly. But it is so gripping that I would have enjoyed it anyway. The actual cycle is intriguing, but HaymArket really excels at is depicting believable a nd interesting characters, especially among the police. A great rest.
My wife and I honeymooned in England and enjoyed Salisbury. When I realized where this book was set, I got into it quickly. But it is so gripping that I would have enjoyed it anyway. The actual cycle is intriguing, but HaymArket really excels at is depicting believable a nd interesting characters, especially among the police. A great rest.
February 14, 2020
Audiobook review
Straight off wow.
The story started with a bang & just continued on in that pace. It’s full on with rough edges, really rough people & some unsavoury happenings. Perfect for me.
I love the police force characters. Fun, serious, full people. I could see a new addiction to new people here. Oh dear!
Wes Markin looks like such a nice guy, hmmmmm haha
Narrator was great, kept the tempo going, had fab inflections for characters.
A definite recommendation off me.
Straight off wow.
The story started with a bang & just continued on in that pace. It’s full on with rough edges, really rough people & some unsavoury happenings. Perfect for me.
I love the police force characters. Fun, serious, full people. I could see a new addiction to new people here. Oh dear!
Wes Markin looks like such a nice guy, hmmmmm haha
Narrator was great, kept the tempo going, had fab inflections for characters.
A definite recommendation off me.
January 11, 2019
Really enjoyed this. Excellently written crime fiction with a nice twist at the end. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
January 11, 2019
This book had me on the edge of my seat. Good gritty crime novel with an absolutely brilliant twist I did not see coming at all. Highly recommended. I couldn't put it down.
January 11, 2019
Hooked from the beginning! Did not want to put it down! Highly recommended! Leaves you with a feeling of wanting more...
April 9, 2019
What an absolutely fantastic debut novel! This book has everything in it that you could possibly want from a crime suspense/thriller.
The Ray family, short of Paul and his parents, are a collection of psycho lunatics, all with a deplorable past. Unfortunately, this past has come back to haunt Paul and his family and makes this story a dark and exceptional read.
There are so many twists and turns in this book it is more than a page turner! It is superbly written and the descriptions both of the surroundings and within the narrative are second to none.
The plot is addictive and very clever. I absolutely loved this book and thoroughly recommend it to all crime thriller fans. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author.
A very well deserved 5 stars!
The Ray family, short of Paul and his parents, are a collection of psycho lunatics, all with a deplorable past. Unfortunately, this past has come back to haunt Paul and his family and makes this story a dark and exceptional read.
There are so many twists and turns in this book it is more than a page turner! It is superbly written and the descriptions both of the surroundings and within the narrative are second to none.
The plot is addictive and very clever. I absolutely loved this book and thoroughly recommend it to all crime thriller fans. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author.
A very well deserved 5 stars!
August 1, 2019
Brilliant storytelling, a cast of interesting, well-defined characters, and twisty turns. Markin excels at creating tension in his readers, not letting up much throughout. There's no clearly defined protagonist in the tale, not even Yorke himself, and a handful of antagonists; quite unique in itself. Highly recommended and I look forward to the next book in the series.
April 15, 2019
This book had me turning the pages from start to end. I would say that this is one of the best crime books that i have read in a while and cannot wait to read more by this author. A well written book with a twist at the end that i didn't see coming. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.
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