Last Request

A Victorian Gothic

By: Jeff Chapman

Narrated by: Caprisha Page

"For the love of God, cut off my head." The last request in Uncle Silas's will shocks everyone speechless, everyone except his favorite niece, Anna. More than death itself, the claustrophobic Silas fears a premature burial. Will her elders carry out his request? Anna is certain they will not. It's up to her to do the right thing, even if it is a bit grisly. Armed with butcher knife and candle, Anna heads for the crypt underneath the church in the dead of night. All does not go according to Anna's careful planning.

Step inside a dark story in the tradition of the penny dreadful, at times humorous and horrifying, but don't close the door behind you. Someone might lock you in.

©2014 Jeff Chapman (P)2014 Jeff Chapman

A great short read

I was listening to this book on the way to go get my haircut and when it ended I was sitting in the parking lot 30 minutes late for my appointment. I really enjoyed this book Ian‘s great uncle Silas had a fear of small spaces due to a woodshed collapsing on him in a storm and pinning him to the dirt floor. So when he passed his last request was the Heaven’s head cut off a request the rest of the family found deplorable, But Ian knew why he made this request and felt it should be carried out. She also felt it was up to her to do it but will she do it? I really enjoyed this book as I said and highly recommend it if you need a test read and a wonderful story with an awesome narrator get this book.

Loved it

I enjoyed this book, and the accents of the characters displayed by the narrator. Wonderful indeed.

Great period story

The story’s time and setting was well placed. I think all that was written could truly have happened at one time. The characters were believable, and the main character Anna was endearing. All she wants to do is fulfill the last wish of a beloved uncle despite the difficulties.

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to another.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator and I would listen to another.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review

Short Ghost Story

I enjoyed this short Victorian Gothic style ghost story. It was creepy and Caprisha Page's narration with her accent made it even better.

Scary Good!

If you are in the mood for dark suspense then this novella is the answer! The story focuses on a young woman's quest to behead her dead uncle. It's weird and original and icky. Her travails will keep you on the edge. I won't give anything away but the amount of scary is intense.

The narrator was great. It was hard to nail gothic and Victorian but Page managed it.

This listen isn't for everyone but for those of us for whom the macabre is palatable, then go forth and enjoy.

Plays upon the fears of being entombed alive

So this story starts with an interesting macabre premise. An uncle of the protagonist, a teenage Victorian lady, has an unusual request after he dies. He wants his head cut off, for reasons related to a trauma in his youth. None of the family seem eager to carry out the request, so it falls to our young heroine to do the honorable thing! But of course, things do not go as planned, (btw I love the heroine's, and by proxy the author's) commitment to planning this task out.

The last 40 minutes are pure suspense. I couldn't put the story down at that point, and had to listen through to the end. The narrator does an excellent job of building upon the text and really bringing out its creepiness.

I think my only quibble is that this short story is too short. I know how that sounds, but I wanted a little more of the aftermath with Anne and her potential parallels to Uncle Silas. But for what this story is, it's delightfully creepy.

Last Request

Annas uncle has a last request.He wants his head cut off to make sure he is really dead.He had claustrophobia and does not want to be put in a casket alive.The relatives don't care to honor this request.When Anna decides to do it,she gets there to find it already done.
I found this hard to follow,even for the short time I was listening.Caprisha Page is a great narrator.I was given this book free for an honest review.

Fun Read

Any additional comments?

This was a most enjoyable read. I like the gothic feel of the book and the narration was spot on.

Engaging Gothic Tale!

Anna’s attempt to honor her favorite Uncle Silas’s last wish shows she has exceptional spunk for a Victorian maiden and provides us with a wonderfully humorous tale. I received a free audiobook copy and found the English accents of the narrator delightful. It definitely added flavor to the drama and dark humor. I hope Mr Chapman writes more of Anna’s adventures and maybe even a story about the Sexton who speaks to ‘ghosties’. Enjoy!

How far would you go to fulfill a last request?

Last Request was my introduction to Jeff Chapman’s storytelling, and I have to say it was an interesting and entertaining first experience. I honestly had no Idea what to expect after reading the description and looking at the cover art, but I was offered an audiobook review copy from the author through StoryOrigin and that picture on the cover seemed to grab y interest. I have to say Last Request wasn’t quite what I expected, but at the same time it was more than I expected in a short work. After the reading of the will and Anna’s speaking u I was hooked and began to develop an empathy for Anna and her dilemma. I had ideas how this story would progress and resolve, but Mr. Chapman handily vanquished all of them. If you enjoy stories with interesting characters, a story like that demands your attention and surprises you at multiple points, I suggest you give Last Request a chance. If you want the full experience, give the audiobook expertly narrated by Caprisha Page. Along with her accent fitting the story so well, the voices and attitudes she gives the characters bring the story to life.