Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I was excited to read this book after seeing some reviews. It did not disappoint. A new author for me and I will definitely be looking out for more of their work. This book is a great crime thriller, I had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommended.

This is the first book in a new series, and I can see it going places. The book was gripping from beginning to end and kept me glued. Recommended.

One Last Prayer for the Rays is an intense story where detective Michael Yorke faces his most harrowing case yet.

When 12-year-old Paul 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.

Definitely has enough twists and turns to keep you engrossed in the story until the very end. Highly recommend.

It is a story that sounds rather cliche, police looking for missing child, but this is far from cliche. The book is dominated by the horrible Ray family and all their misdoings and one thing I liked about this book, was the way in which the author did not sugar coat anything. Everything was so raw and real. It had me captivated from the start and it did not slow down, it kept a nice steady pace throughout. Well written. This was a wonderful start to the series.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I had high expectations after reading the reviews. I did not find this book very engaging and would not recommend it.

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!

this is not my usual choice of book. Truth told, if I had realized the genre of book it is I probably would not have read it. I would have missed out on a throughly good read. This book is a fast paced, never a dull moment read. I enjoyed it.

A really good, entertaining crime story. Well written at a good pace to keep the reader interested.

Fantastic debut novel! I found myself enjoying this book more and more. Fast paced and with all the twists you expect from a story like this! Bring on number 2!

This 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! I really like series books and this book is no different. Even though there are a lot of characters that are being introduced all at once this book promises to be a winner. I enjoyed the story line throughout this novel. The Ray family are well known and not for being the best neighbors. 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. I

ONE LAST PRAYER FOR THE RAYS is a remarkably astonishing novel, a mystery amazing in both its depth and breadth. From the explosive and sad commencement, right through to the oh no! epilogue, the author kept my attention totally riveted to the page, as he unfolded characters who have to be read to be believed. Total suspension of disbelief here, and an incredible introduction to abnormal psychology of several stripes!

Set in and around Salisbury, England, a fount of civilization for millenia, the mystery focuses on one particular lineage, the Rays, which generation after generation have produced monsters. Seemingly, only three are left, a brother and sister, and the brother's young son. The son, Paul, is intelligent and gifted, attending Salisbury's Cathedral School. Hopefully he will remain free of the cursed taint of his family history. All that is upended when he is found missing from school, and the clues point to injury or fatality.

Wow what a great book! I was totally hooked right from the start. The Ray family are well known in the area for events that have happened in the past. Paul Ray has disappeared from his school and all that is found is a lot of blood but no body! DCI Michael Yorke races against time to try to solve the case.

An amazing debut novel which will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. This is a dark and chilling read with some excellent characters. The story is action packed, with some really gruesome moments and a good twist. Wes Markin has created a wonderfully dark and sinister atmospheric thriller. I really could not put this book down and I can't stop thinking about the evil Ray family! This is the first book in the DCI Michael Yorke series and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

I am pleased to have a new author and a new series to add to my reading list and will eagerly be looking forward to the next book in this series. Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dark, gritty and good. When a boy goes missing from school and all that is left behind is a pool of pig's blood and a scrawled message on the wall stating "in the Blood.", DCI Michael York races to find him. Was he kidnapped? And if so why? and does the pig's blood and scrawled message reference the boy's pi farming ancestry? As York digs deeper, and time passes with no sign of the boy, uglier secrets come to the surface. Great police procedural.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. Obviously I read it in English.

Twelve-year-old Paul disappears from the school, a place that should be safe for students. Only clue, a pool of blood and a writing on the wall. But the blood doesn’t belong to Paul, nor is it human but animal. Paul’s only fault? to be a Ray. And the Ray family has a history of violence, murder and madness.

In fact one of his relatives, Thomas Ray, killed a nurse, wife of ex- policeman Harry because he thought the aliens had come to get him. But his body is found hanged and mutilated and therefore it could not have been him. What lies behind this family? What other secrets can they have?

The book turned out to be a bit slow even though the chapters are divided into paragraphs and therefore it is easy to stop when reading a chapter.

The case is interesting and so the characters involved, even if I didn’t get passionate about any of them, especially the protagonist, usually in a series I want to know everything about the detective, but I didn’t feel any spark here. I was more interested in the character of Lacey Ray, I think she’s a well-thought character and I hope to find her in the next books.

I like the author’s style and if it wasn’t for the slowness of the narration I would have given at least one more star. I don’t find this book as “chilling” as I read in some reviews, indeed I find it quite normal. For me, chilling means torture, blood everywhere, psychological games and I honestly don’t see them here. Perhaps because it is a boy, some people find it chilling and I agree that any crime against boys or children is more serious, but I don’t see that atrocious component that could exist. Especially since we don’t see Thomas Ray’s murder or the other one that I can’t tell you about. Maybe I’m the one who’s used to something else. But don’t get me wrong, it is still an enjoyable reading.

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.

A dark and gritty book about a missing boy and the family from hell.DCI Yorke has a tough case to solve after his suspect is found dead.I can highly recommend this book and look forward to the next.5*

First off, this book title. All I could see for the first 20 pages was "I can't stand the rain, it's my window." Sure, Missy Elliot's Superfly. I'm a superfly.
But, once I got past the title, and got it out of my damn head, it was good. Actually, it was better than good. Mr. Wes Markin has my attention. I do believe that if I wasn't in such a reading slump right now that this would be a 5 star review. I love stories that I can't figure out,.or at least takes that take me some time to figure out. Was this one easy? "Shrug" You figure it out. It was good. I wish I had discovered it last year when I wasn't such a downer. I rate it 3 stars, but if I wasn't in such a reading slump, would I rate it more? More than likely, yes. For sure? Can't say.

One last Prayer for the Rays is one brilliant crime thriller you need to get your hands on if you haven't already! It's riveting, suspenseful and intrigued me from the get-go. It sure was unputdownable and I found myself captivated by the storyline and setting. Wes Markin introduces us to Detective Michael Yorke, a tough and relentless officer of the law with a mysterious past (which is unveiled in A lesson in Crime/Defined- a short story on Yorke's past which can be downloaded from the author's website https://wesmarkinbooks.weebly.com/). In the beginning, the number of characters introduced was surely overwhelming so remembering them was the only place I struggled. However, once you get past the many names, you enter the best part of the story. Never a dull moment, reading every chapter is a sheer delight! I found the pace set very well. The ending too was just brilliant!
So here goes another series I WILL definitely be following. I'm highly impressed that this is Wes Markin's debut novel and he' already set the bar very high with it. Can't wait for the next!
Thank you NetGalley, Wes Markin & BooksGoSocial for an arc!

Every parent's nightmare; a twelve year old boy has gone missing from school and DCI Michael Yorke believes he knows exactly where to look first, a recently released local murderer named Thomas Ray. But when Ray is found savagely murdered Yorke has to do a deep dive on Ray's family for answers before the clock runs out. Holy moly, strap in, because these people are the absolute worst.

This one makes you sleep with the lights on, in the best way!

Thank you to Wes Markin, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.