This book definitely is the 'things aren't always as they seem'. The unfolding of the story seemed straight forward until some of the others who witnessed the horror began to unravel and it become much more complicated and highlighted how people can manipulate situations to their own gains. All slightly unnerving!

I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review. Another good read from C L Taylor well plotted will keep you guessing to the end

Two years ago, Fran's sister Jenna went to a wellness retreat in Gozo to find herself. Things went terribly wrong on that retreat, with two people dead and Jenna having gone missing. The retreat's self help guru Tom Wade spent time in prison for the deaths of the two retreat participants, and now he and his wife Kate are trying to give it another go with the retreats. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Fran creates an assumed identity and signs up for the retreat, trying to infiltrate it and learn its inner workings. Fran soon realizes her life may be in danger also, as there may be someone who wants keep secrets hidden. Told in alternating narratives, the story unravels as the voices of the present converge with Jenna's voice from the past.

I enjoyed this title, although some parts of it were a bit hard to believe. Not to given any spoilers, but the ending seemed a bit farfetched, it was enjoyable nonetheless. I did enjoy trying to figure out who was genuine throughout, and who was putting on an act. Determining between Tom and Kate to see who was the mastermind in the end made for an interesting ride as well. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this title.

Her Last Holiday is a non-stop drama thriller set on an island retreat where the protagonist, Fran, tries to discover the secrets of her sister's disappearance. I read one CL Taylor book a while back, and from what I remember the two are very similar in terms of pacing and how it constantly leaves the reader on edge.

This is another book that I've read this year that's a very character-driven story. On paper it doesn't sound like a lot is going on but under the surface you do get a fair amount of interesting narration from Fran, Kate, and Jenna.

My main issue with Her Last Holiday was that there were too many characters. This book works with just a few main parts and the three alternating perspectives because the concept itself isn't that complex. This isn't a novel where you're going to be trying to put the pieces together or analyzing every event, but it is one where you'll get really intriguing monologues from the few characters. Anyone else who was featured were just names that I was trying to remember while still trying to grasp the main plotline.

This for me was an ok read but one that failed to grip me and I did struggle at times to keep myself interested in the story. The plot itself I found to be a bit far fetched and sadly I didn’t like the characters either but I did finish the book quickly and I think as I read a lot of thrillers perhaps I was expecting too much from this read as it didn’t hold many surprises for me at all.
The pace of the book was good and it was told in a then and now format with points of view from Jenna and Fran which kept the pages turning. I just felt that the book lacked something but then again perhaps that was just me and we can’t all like the same books can we.
So only a three star read for me and one I liked but didn’t love.
My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Oh I do love a good C.L. Taylor thriller and this one is another classic. I tore through this in a single day, intrigued by the premise and determined to find out what really happened to Fran's sister, Jenna, all those years ago. I must admit to being prone to more than a small amount of scepticism when it comes to self-help gurus and retreats such as the one depicted in this book, and having spent time with Tom Wade, Karen and 'Soul Shrink' I'm not readily inclined to change my mind. Not that they are all as dangerous as this retreat turns out to be, I'm sure, but the book has done little to convert me to the dark side.

The story is told from the series of three women - Fran, a teacher and whose sister went missing at Soul Shrink's final, fatal, retreat in Gozo; Kate, financial and marital partner to soul Shrink's resident guru, Tom Wade and Jenna, Fran's sister, and whose disappearance is the catalyst for the story that is about to unfold. Set both in the present day and on that fateful week three years earlier, the author slowly allows the truth to unfold, keeping tension high and readers completely guessing. We know something happened to Jenna - her family and the authorities suspect she committed suicide - but with no note, no body and nobody who can give them closure, the question remains, why? Why did she disappear and, if the worst did happen, why did she do it. Well ... the truth is all laid out there but clues are drop fed, suspicion awakened and the shocks are all set to be unleashed at just the perfect moment, as CL Taylor is well skilled at.

I kind of liked the character of Fran. She is far from perfect - spiky, intolerant of others and generally anti-social to be fair. She is my kindred spirit, which is possibly why I was happy (ish) in her company. There are reasons behind her defensiveness, least of which being her overbearing mother who coerces her into going to Soul Shrink's latest retreat in the first place, but seeing her determination and her natural suspicion of everything and everybody, her in built cynicism, really brought a smile to my face.

Kate - well now she is quite the character. The author has pitched her perfectly, her obsessive and controlling nature combined with a less than healthy dose of paranoia making for a heady mix. At times she appears to be the perfect wife, devoted to her husband and sticking by thin through. thick and thin, yet you are always made to wonder if there is more lurking under the surface. As for Jenna, she is far from perfect but the groundwork is laid throughout so that we can see her as part victim and part orchestrator of her own fate, however awful that may finally become. And the charismatic Tom wade - conman, victim or saviour. Well - jury's out here to be fair. There may be some acute observations hidden in in his therapy sessions, he certainly pushes Fran to the limit. Or it may just all be psychological guff and hokum. He certainly charms the pants off the ladies in the book but you should read it and decide for yourself.

The many characters who lurk around the periphery of the two retreats leave us with a whole host of suspects in the event that Jenna's fate was as awful as we may suppose. They are the perfect blend of the neurotic, the angry and the larger. than life eccentric, and when some of them appear on the latest incarnation of the Soul Shrink retreat in Wales, you know the scene is set for quite a dramatic finale. The author uses setting perfectly, from the atmospheric climate of the Welsh countryside and the relative danger of the pursuits the residents undertake, through to the more sunnier but seemingly no less threatening setting of a luxury hotel in Gozo, each location adds to the drama and the tension of their particular aspects of the story. You can feel the threat quite overtly in dull, occasionally wild and often chilling Wales, the beauty of Gozo serving to hide some of the biggest shocks of all.

It certainly wasn't what I expected, a mixture of deep psychological probing in which all of the characters' fears and flaws are laid bare, leading to a dramatic and pulse pounding climax in which all of the secrets of the past are revealed, but I certainly enjoyed it, completing the book in a single sitting.Pacing is perfect and the mystery kept me hooked. If you're a fan of the author this is definitely recommended.

I think this is Taylor’s best book yet. Gripping and tense, it kept me guessing right to the end. The best thing about Cally’s writing is the characterisation and how she explores family dynamics; the sisters’ relationship here was fascinating and totally believable. I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for this ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

I do love C.L. Taylor’s books so I did start reading this with high expectations and I wasn’t disappointed! There’s no shortage of very well formed characters starting with prickly Fran who likes to keep people at arms length but has to let people close when she goes on a retreat in Wales to try to discover what happened to her sister Jenna when she went on a retreat a few years back and disappeared. Told from both Fran’s perspective now and troubled Jenna’s perspective then we encounter the discombobulating retreat leaders and varied but intriguing other participants not to mention Fran and Jenna’s domineering mother. It took me a little while to get to know the characters but once I did I was engrossed in their stories and with the foibles that most characters displayed it was very difficult working out who could be trusted and who couldn’t never mind what happened to Jenna!

I usually love books by this author and usually devour them within a couple of days however, this one was just ok in my opinion.

The main concept of the story was enjoyable however, I felt no connection to the main characters. I also found parts quite farfetched and a little unbelievable, it also involved a cult type retreat which is a no go area for me. I just can’t get into books about cults it’s just down to personal preference. All in all it was very well written with a good storyline it just wasn’t as good or enjoyable as the authors previous books.

A well written suspense that offers plenty of unexpected moments. C.L. Taylor provides a well rounded cast, with a variety of characters. However, it is the complexity of this character development that seems to also stall the plot. Overall, a decent read that is suited for those who like slower paced storyline and multiple character lines.

Thank you to #NetGalley and for the ARC of #HerLastHoliday which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

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I love CL Taylor’s books and I was lucky to be given a preview of this new book by NetGalley. She is one of the best psychological thriller writers around with lots of twists and intrigue the book definitely hooks you straight away.
I think to talk too much about the plot would spoil it other than to say she goes backwards and forwards in time so that you have to keep reading to unravel the plot. With each page you learn a little more about what really happened to Jenna at the Soul Shrink retreat where she went to be healed by the charismatic Tom Wade. When her sister Fran reluctantly attends another revival of Soul Shrink to try and discover the truth she puts herself in far more danger than she could have anticipated. Who can she trust and is everyone really as they seem?
This is a great easy read with good characterisation and I really enjoyed it.

2.5 stars

Her Last Holiday is centred around SoulShrink, a wellness company run by guru Tom Wade and his wife, Kate. Two years prior, two people at one of their retreats end up dead and a third - Fran's sister Jenna disappeared. Now, under pressure from Fran's mother to get some answers from Tom himself, Fran finds herself attending their first retreat since Tom's release from prison.

Told in two different timelines, we follow three perspectives: Jenna's, Kate's and Fran's. The more Fran digs into the past retreat, the more secrets that come to surface and with a large cast of characters, there's many characters for the reader to see as potential killers.

At a time where wellness retreats are very popular, I did enjoy the setting of the book though with so many characters, it was a little overwhelming at times and difficult to form connections with them all.

This was an entertaining and plot-twisty read but I just found the story incredible unbelievable. There were too many things that I found myself saying 'that would never happen' from Fran's mother asking her to attend the retreat in the first place, to the activities involved with the retreat, right through to the big reveal at the end.

I think this book can be enjoyed by readers who place more value in plot twists than believability but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My true rating for this book is 3.5 stars. This story is about Fran whose sister Jenna disappeared whilst on a Soul Shrink retreat in Gozo. The official ruling was suicide but the family believes she was murdered. When Soul Shrink puts on another retreat after leader Tom Wade is released from prison after serving a sentence for the deaths of two people. Fran’s mother sends her on the retreat to try and get the truth from Tom who they believe is responsible. Somebody on the retreat does not want Fran to get to the truth.

The story is told in two timelines, one is present day where we are following Fran who is trying to get to the truth of what really happened to her sister. In the past we are following Jenna on the retreat in Gozo as we find out about what happened in the lead up to her disappearance. I have read all of this authors adult books and was really excited to read this one. Unfortunately I felt this one was not quite as good as some of her others. The second half of this book dragged on a bit. Each time I thought that there was nothing else to say something else happened. I also felt that the ending was a bit of a let down. I will look forward to this authors next release.

This was amazing! An edge of your seat, can’t put down, read into the wee hours kind of book! I devoured this!

The story follows Fran, on a quest to find out what happened to her sister on a healing retreat in Gozo. That’s all I can really say without giving spoilers but I was invested in the characters who are complex and likeable. I kept changing my mind who the bad guy was too. C L Taylor writes so well that the book just flows. She kept my interest all the way through and it took me a while to puzzle it out but when I did, the drama didn’t stop there and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough.

Such a great, fast paced, thrilling read! Another great book by CL Taylor, which I would 100% recommend!

I have read all of CL Taylor’s book but this was not her best in my opinion. The thriller has many characters some likeable others not. The story line is Fran being haunted by her sister Fran’s suicide whilst on a retreat. She sets out to investigate. An ok easy read once you get into the book.

Her Last Holiday, C.L. Taylor, AVON HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2021
Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with this book to review. A four and a half star novel.

C.L. Taylor brings together memorable characters; a satisfying plot, which, while having inspiring twists and turns does not rely on them; and experiences that resonate with current concerns.
Fran Fitzgerald introduces the plot, with her character, behaviour and recall all quickly establishing the work as one of a mystery to be solved, arresting protagonists and family conflict. Fran is a marvellous character, strong, courageous, determined – and difficult. She prefers physical distance to expressing human emotion and has a fraught relationship with her younger sister and mother. Fran is a fifty-one-year-old teacher, at first meeting a passenger in a hot tube carriage, boiling with anger having begun the day with a UTS, a command from the Deputy Head that she partake in the supervision of a difficult student group and problems with a photo copier. But all of this, she thinks, is minor in comparison with the past two years. This thought has little time to be more than a faint wisp of a past event, which may impact the future, when Fran is drawn into an incident of sexual harassment, with which she deals superbly.
Jenna Fitzgerald, Fran’s younger sister, is introduced in the next chapter, in events that have taken place two years before. She is also a mature woman, although much younger than Fran. The third major female character, Kate, returns the story to the present, when she arrives at a prison to meet her husband who has served two years for an undisclosed crime. Fran and Jenna’s mother, defensive seventy-three-year-old Geraldine Fitzgerald, has started the events that lead to Jenna’s trip to @SoulShrink, a ‘Self-help for your soul’ group two years before, and Fran’s venture to the re-creation of the group in the present.
While there are several men, not least of whom is Tom Wade, and other women, Fran, Jenna, Kate, and Geraldine are the characters whose stories, motivations and personalities govern the action. They are all so well worth knowing, even at their worst. Each holds the key to a mystery, largely focussing on Jenna’s disappearance two years before.
C.L. Taylor’s strengths lie in an ability to write a novel that draws in the reader (so much so that to leave it unfinished is difficult) combined with a great capacity for reflecting on serious issues, without impeding the plot. The events at @SoulShrink, past and present, while at times sinister can also be the matter of comedy; deadly incidents are at the same time horrifying and perplexing. It is the latter with which the novel reader and observer of current events could come together – what is the explanation for the behaviour of the @SoulShrink clients? The owners’ interests seem clear. And yet, what does really motivate Tom Wade? Kate seems to show her hand at the end, but she is a complex woman and what seems a simple explanation for her behaviour might bear further thought.
Her Last Holiday is to be commended for its excellent female characters, good plotting which never disappoints, and the polished way in which the ends are tied up. This novel, while using intriguing twists does not rely on them for shock to avoid solid exposition. In keeping with this, the other literary devices, characterisation, events and moving between the past and present work smoothly, bringing together events that build towards a conclusion that makes sense while retaining a sense of optimism.

Another triumph from CL Taylor, quickly becoming my go to thriller author.

As always with Taylor's books, there is a slow and steady drip feed of information that lets you think you've solved the mystery, until it crescendos into a climax of twists and turns that presents events in a way you couldn't even dream.

The character Fran was abrasive and unlikeable at timeS, which just made her more believable. And the tension in her family was palpable.

Having read two of CL Taylor's other books this year I am convinced they are the creme de la creme of the genre.

Another dysfunctional family gone awry—what all good mysteries should start with. You’ll be caught up in a few murders (solved and unsolved), a resort that is supposed to improve your mental health (by taking you on dangerous adventures to face your fears!!!) and the adoration of followers to a guru who promises that they will shed their issues at the SoulShrink retreat. Always there’s the power struggle; who has it compared to who wants and needs it. What results is a cast of characters that were shady, selfish and self-serving……..what we all like in a book.
There were times when the chapters would revert back in time and characters changed their names within the story which made me slow down my reading pace…….probably a good thing because you don’t want to miss a thing in this book.

Jenna has a sister Fran . Jenna has a secret .
Wow ! Where to start on unravelling this book ? It certainly had lots of secrets, and characters who aren't quite who they seem , or even who they want the world to believe they are .
It starts off on an island retreat and carries on in another retreat in the U.K.
Full of twists and turns , the plot is full of suspense and takes you down paths before turning you quickly down another . I loved it.

This was fantastic from start to finish. I really did not want to put it down. C.L. Taylor really knows how to hold her reader's attention right up until the very last page. The characters were very well written and setting here was totally fitting and truly captivating. Having holidayed in Gozo in the past I could totally envision their happenings. The story was emotional too at times and totally credible as Fran drew closer to learning the truth about her sister's disappearance. As always with Taylor she writes evil very well, and Tom was very unlikable I felt, he instantly came across as comebody capable of doing all of which he was accused. This was a real page turner, one I would really recommend.