The Last Lap by AK McBalls is a humorous tale that follows the residents of Winklebutty, home to The Last Lap, a retirement home for racing whippets and 'Trubulsom Porquapine.' Unfortunately, The Last Lap is facing foreclosure and needs funds to stay open and save it from the bank, and Rocco, a cunning sausage factory owner. Their only hope lies in the upcoming Winklebutty Cup race, which offers a first-place prize substantial enough to save their home. Retired racing star Destiny and her rider, Angeli, train for the race, but Angeli feels unfit for the task. She suggests that Sally-Dee take her place; however, Sally-Dee drops out when she injures her leg in an accident. With a last-minute rider change, racing against a cheetah, and Destiny losing her sense of smell—crucial for sensing the whiff of victory—the odds seem stacked against them. The race itself is filled with drama, concluding in a murder mystery that leaves everyone under suspicion.

The Last Lap is more than just a comedic story about a race to save a retirement home in a whimsical town; it offers a satirical take on a variety of social issues, conspiracy theories, and political commentary. The narrative dives into topics like corruption, police bias, alien abductions, and sports doping, among others. AK McBalls uses wordplay and frequently breaks the fourth wall, directly engaging with readers about Italian whippets and Winklebutty’s history. I appreciate how the author introduces each character with enough detail to make them relatable and memorable. The cast of unpredictable characters has diverse personalities, backgrounds, and motives. The ending is particularly shocking, as it shifts from a plot focused on a wild race to a whodunit, making it highly engaging and suspenseful. Overall, this is an entertaining story and a must-read for anyone interested in unique tales that blend humor with social critique.

The Last Lap: Retirement Home for Racing Whippets & “Trubulsom Porquapines" by AK McBalls is a comic novel set in the odd village of Winklebutty, a place shaped by fungal plagues and unusual residents. Hidden between its mountains stands the White Swan, a worn old building that has become home to Angeli Cup, a former jockey who now runs a retirement refuge for whippets and porcupines. Trouble looms when a bank official delivers a notice of closure that puts the refuge in danger of being shut down. The threat grows sharper with the presence of Rocco Parmigiana, the Sausage Baron of Lumpy Bottom, whose interests in racing and sausages make him a dangerous rival. With their home at risk, Angeli and the residents hatch an outrageous plan to save it.

What I loved most about The Last Lap by AK McBalls was the way laughter and tension flowed together. Some scenes had me laughing, while others tightened with suspense, making me eager to see what might happen next. Sally-Dee stood out to me from the start. She is prone to wild ideas, which I found funny, and even when everything around her was falling apart, she held her ground, and I admired that strength in her. Angeli was the heart of the story for me. Her determination to hold on to the refuge pushed everything forward, and I liked how her strength sometimes slipped to reveal her fear. I cared about their struggles and wanted to stay with them until the end. The humor and chaos had me laughing, but the book also explores themes of betrayal, greed, loyalty, and the hope that pushes people on, even when the odds seem impossible. This gave the novel meaning without taking away its humor. I gladly recommend this book to readers who love a good laugh.