Last Survivor is the fourth in a series but works very well as a standalone which is how I read it. It has an intriguing premise, and it resulted in a gripping, enjoyable book.

The thriller aspect of this book was complex, tightly woven and fascinating, as it went from what has to be one of the coolest group of pensioners I’ve ever read about and launched into a very modern exploration of the wrong side of the law. From terrorism to smuggling, corruption and poaching and more, all with a very modern and very realistic flavour, some closer to home than others in our current time, this book had it all, combined with obvious knowledge and love for the African Continent. Knowledge that for the most part was displayed with great skill, alongside the thriller aspect of the book, although there were a few places where it felt like the details were outweighing the story. While there was a lot, I found interesting – especially the information about the Cycad – there was also some that felt unnecessary and slowed down the pacing, although Park was swift to draw us back into the action after those moments.

However, for the most part, Last Survivor was well-paced with a good balance of story, characters, and action. Park has created a very character-driven story here, and they were well-drawn and central to the plot from start to finish, and never lost out to plot or information. In particular, the elderly society members were the highlight of this book for me, and I would gladly read more about them.

A fun, engaging read with a fast, well-paced plot and a really fascinating premise, and certainly a book I would recommend to anyone who likes some different characters in their action.