My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A tense and intriguing read, cleverly written with lots of twists and turns. This is a compelling mystery with well developed characters. I would recommend as a good read.

I enjoyed this book, it took me a while to get into initially and seemed a bit long-winded, but then I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
The characters were well-written and I liked how you could form an opinion of someone and then be totally wrong about them.
There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the end.
I didnt think it was as good as The Island, but enjoyed it and it was a good way to pass a few hours.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

CL Taylor is a brilliant author, her writing style is captivating and always a very quick read. I’ve read all of her adult books (she does YA now too) and her earlier novels I absolutely adored but this one just didn’t do ‘it’ for me.

Whilst her signature style was present, this story had strong echoes of both ‘Sleep’ and Strangers’ the only other two novels I rated low.

The trouble with this kind of narrative is that quite often the reader must suspend belief in order to fully enjoy and engage with a book. I struggle with books like this and once they begin to go a little ‘weird’ I then start noticing lots of plot holes and issues. I won’t go into the issues with the plot as many other reviewers have picked up on them too.

So whilst I finished the book and enjoyed reading it. Overall it just didn’t wow me! I wasn’t ‘hooked’ and I really really disliked the long, drawn out, tie a bow in it ending. Sorry Cally, this one wasn’t my favourite x

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such an addictive book as I followed the story of Fran to discover the truth behind her sisters death. It is told in a dual timeline format and this worked so well for the story. The past gave me details of Jenna, Frans sister, who she met while on a retreat. The present is Frans part of the story.

The retreat is supposed to be a safe place, a place to overcome fears, tackle the lurking memories and demons and should be a positive and life affirming break. Jenna, unfortunately doesn’t come home from this break.

When another retreat is advertised Fran is cajoled into a place. The who and the why is gradually revealed and it gives an insight into both the lives of the sisters.

This is such a good story and one that had a great amount of intrigue. As I was reading I did wonder who was the main instigator and also who could I trust. I have to say the characters in the main are not that trustworthy or that likeable. In some ways this adds the suspicious side to their nature.

This had an excellent pace and quite a few twists. If you are a fan of crime and mystery books then you will probably read one or more of this authors books already. If you haven’t then you really should. A interesting and intriguing story that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to C.L Taylor, NetGalley and Avon Books for the advance review copy of Her Last Holiday.

Two years ago Fran's younger sister Jenna went to a Soul Shrink self help retreat in Gozo with famous therapist Tom Wade - but sadly never returned. After the deaths of two of the attendees during the Gozo retreat, Tom was sent to prison for 2 years on a manslaughter charge, Meanwhile Jenna was missing under suspicious circumstances and her body was never found. The Police ruled that troubled Jenna had committed suicide.

When Tom is released from prison, his wife and business partner Kate has been planning his return for weeks. His big comeback, his return to hosting therapy retreats and a plan to rebuild their business empire. Within days of his release she has tweeted from his social accounts expressing his sorrow, hoping to gain the support of his heavy following who always supported his claim of innocence. Whilst Tom would have happily never hosted another retreat ever again, Kate is determined that they should go ahead to regain his reputation.

When Jenna and Fran's Mother sees the retreat in Wales advertised, she is furious, convinced that Tom murdered Jenna and desperate for answers. She books Fran on to the retreat, telling that she must stop at nothing to discover the truth. Fran eventually agrees creating a new identity in her Mother's maiden name to head to the retreat incognito. When some familiar characters arrive on the retreat who were also present in Gozo, is this Fran's opportunity to discover what really happened to her sister? Can she trust any of them?

Her Last Holiday kept me reading late into the night, with a great tension build up willing you to read on and learn more. Told through the differing perspectives of Jenna in Gozo during the retreat, Fran in the present day and Kate (the business partner), I really enjoyed flicking between the present day and the events that occurred two years ago in Gozo. As some of the characters were present again, I found myself doubting and questioning everyone. I also loved the fact that seeds that were planted early on grew to be crucial parts of the plot, but were done so subtly that you didn't even notice them at the time.

I really warmed to the slightly rude, no filter Fran - an unlikely lead but someone who I found myself rooting for - the guilt she felt at telling her sister to 'come back later' as there last meeting was relatable and heartfelt.

I read Her Last Holiday from cover to cover in 12 hours, stopping only to sleep! I believe this is my first read by C.L Taylor, but definitely not my last.

(This will be shared on realmumreview.com in March ready for April release)

I really enjoyed Her Last Holiday by C.L Taylor. Jenna attends a retreat in Gozo and never returns, her family are devastated to hear that she committed suicide but her body was never found. Jenna's sister Fran decides to attend one of these retreats two years after her sister's death, she wants to find out exactly what happened and why her sister would do such a thing.
This is a really good read, the plot keeps you interested the whole way through and you can't put it down. The narration switches from Fran now and Jenna then, so you slowly get to find out what happened while Jenna was at the retreat and the same time as following Fran as she tries to unearth the truth.
A great gripping and thrilling read. I would recommend this book.

This book tells the story of two sisters, Fran and Jenna, both carrying plenty of emotional baggage and having grown up with a difficult mother. Jenna attended a Soul Shrink retreat in Gozo and doesn't return. The police conclude that she committed suicide.
A few years later, Fran is booked onto a Soul Shrink retreat in Snowdonia, sent by her mother to get some answers regarding Jenna's death.
I found that I had little sympathy for any of the characters in the book and consequently wasn't particularly bothered about what happened to them. An easy book to read, but a little too obvious for me. I worked out the conclusion about halfway through and would have preferred a few more twists, turns and surprises.

When Jenna attends a retreat, her family are devastated to hear she has committed suicide. Her mother doesn't accept the suicide verdict and sends Jenna's sister Fran on the next retreat to discover the truth. Fran has to learn who she can trust and who is a suspect as she desperately tries to discover what really happened to her sister.

A really good read. The characters come to life and the plot is interesting. There are enough twists to keep the reader turning pages and to throw you off the scent. The writing style is excellent. I was impressed by the authors ability to create an image without being overly descriptive as some do. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this book.
I found this book a really unusual and great read. The way it explores the relationship between siblings and an overbearing mother was really well done. I am sure there are a lot of people who spend far too much time and money on the type of “retreats” that Kate and Tom organised to find a way to correct their dysfunctional lives. The twists and turns in the book were really well written and kept you turning the pages. Only thing left unfinished was were is Tom now?
Looking forward to more please.

This was quite an interesting read It centers around missing (presumed dead after having committed suicide) Jenna, who was last seen at a retreat, and her sister Fran, who goes on the hunt for answers.

Apart from the story itself, which drew me in, left me incredulous, then amused, I found myself thinking about it for quite a while after reading the last page. The twists and unexpected turns are very clever, and I especially enjoyed Caroline, and also Fran. Frankly, Tom, Kate, Geraldine and even Jenna needed a good kick up the jacksy for the most part. And that sweat lodge! Holy cow, do people actually go in for that sort of thing? I'm amazed, ain't no way you'd get me in there, soul searching or not! Just goes to show how gullible people can be, and why people (like Kate) make a lot of money if they play their cards right.

In her acknowledgments, the author says that if this is the first of her books the reader has picked up, she hopes it inspires a second, and by Jove it has. I look forward to delving into a few more C.L. Taylor offerings in the near future. I give this a solid 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thanks to C.L. Taylor, Avon Books, and NetGalley for my ARC.

Read this book all in one sitting. Loved the complexities of the characters and their surrounding relationships. Also liked the way the author led you down one path, then another, leaving it impossible to know who the villain or hero/heroine would be in this story. Liked the twists at the end too!

I really enjoy reading CL Taylors books. They are all unique in their plots and take you on a journey. This book was definitely one of my favorites from her. I really enjoyed how the story was told from 3 different points of view. I didn't love all of the characters, but I truly appreciated their perspectives and why they did what they did. I enjoyed reading about Kate's perspective and how she spiraled down as the book progressed. Never thought that she would be that devious! I was happy that Fran and Jenna made up with their parents at the end. I liked how that part of the book ended. I almost felt like with the Kate ending that we might see another book about her?

Wow I have no clue how C. L. Taylor does this time and time again and comes up with books that leave you unable to put them down, and leaving you opened mouths in awe and shock by the end!

But it's one hell of a skill to have, and this is another triumphant book that had me scratching my head. Ok I had a tiny inkling about one part of the resolution, but I wasn't ever completely sure, nor could I work out the hows, whys etc...

We are treated to three ladies perspectives, Jenna from her time at the wellness retreat in Gozo, Fran and Kate in the present day, where ultimately we are on a retreat run by the same man responsible for deaths at his previous one in Gozo, and that has just been released from prison.

Fran is on the quest for truth as to just what happened to Jenna, two years ago, as her family are refusing to believe the verdict of suicide. However the sheer act of asking questions could be rather dangerous it appears.

And in the chapters from Jenna's points of view, I was utterly gripped into what went on, and how so many people believed in Tom - the soul shrink. Tom suffers from a condition that is actually quite fascinating and his welcome talk on the new retreat sounded really impressive, but how much of that was really true I'm not sure!

I read this book in two sittings, with the need for sleep the only thing stopping me from reading it in one go. It was addictive, unpredictable, gripping and just C. L. Taylor at her very best. It keeps you guessing, keeps you thinking and is just a fabulous reading experience.

I've said it before, and I'll happily say it again, that C. L. Taylor writes absolute masterpieces, always so different but with the most amazing of storylines and twists that come out of nowhere. Just wow!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The only issue I had with this was, if the mom really believed her daughter died on a wellness retreat, why was she so adamant that her only other daughter be forced to go on the retreat with the same people she alleges killed her daughter? This seems...unkind at best. I know she would never win mother of the year award but this seems excessively cruel. I dunno. Aside from that though, I enjoyed the story and read it quickly. A very good day start to 2021. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the advanced copy.

I loved reading this book, especially about Fran. Fran comes across as a woman who goes to work does what she is paid to do before returning home to comfy slippers and hot chocolate by the fire. When she is summoned home, by her mother, it is still to take second place to her absent sister Jenna again! Jenna was the much younger sister of Fran, and they had never been close.


Jenna had gone missing while attending a retreat in Gozo, at the same time as two other guests had died. Tom Wade, the head of Soul Shrink Retreats, was being released from prison after serving a two-year manslaughter sentence for the two that had died. Jenna was still missing.
A very reluctant Tom and his pushy wife Kate had organised a new venue in Wales, and Fran’s mum was insistent that Fran goes to find out what had happened to Jenna.

This book was very entertaining, with characters that are larger than life. Fran is hilarious, not comfortable mixing with people, and has a lousy memory for the identity she has taken on. I had to cringe and giggle at her.


The story is told by three women, first Fran, secondly Kate whose memories go back to the last retreat and everything that went wrong to present day and finally Jenna leading up to what had happened to her. These three were perfect narrators and held all the answers.


This story is more of a Miss Marple than Peter James, easy reading, engaging and loved the end!


I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Oh wow! This is a straight from the headlines thriller. The sister Jenna disappears at a retreat by a guru jailed for the death of two and the sister of third retreat goer ends up trying to get to the bottom of it. Amazing plot and twists and a satisfying ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book to review.

I have read a few C L Taylor books before and have really enjoyed them. They are always easy to follow with a good storyline so I was looking forward to reading her new one. Again, this was easy to get in to from the start and I liked the idea of the self-help retreat.

I usually love books that switch between voices and time-frames but I really struggled to keep up with who was who in this one, it didn’t help that some characters had more than one name too.

I thought the story dragged. It felt repetitive, especially in the middle, I wanted a bit more excitement. I did find myself skimming it towards the end which is a shame as I really liked the concept.

I didn’t dislike this book, but I didn’t love it either. Saying that, it wouldn’t put me off reading more from this author in the future.

Jenna goes to a retreat to heal, but she never comes home.  Now her sister, Fran, is trying to find out who killed her.  Will Fran finally get to the truth or will she never return home just like her sister?

This is another belter of a book from CL Taylor.  Yet again, you are transported into a world with twists, turns, secrets and lies and I loved it.

I really enjoyed Fran.  She is not your usual lead character in crime/thriller books.  She is sassy, but in a way your Mum gets sassy when someone cuts in front of her in a queue and she ends up muttering "youths" as she walks past a teenager.  She is slightly square, slightly older, and slightly rude, but that's my favourite personality combination of seems!  But most of all, she stands up for what is right, and you see that in the opening of the book, which just cemented my enjoyment of her early on.

I really found the family dynamics interesting too as well as the subjects within the story about domestic abuse (both marital and relative based) and really liked how in both cases it was flipped on its head from the "usual" stereotype of men being the perpetrator.

It's a book that I absolutely flew through, and like the other books I've read from CL Taylor, it's a another fantastic page turner.

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished this and I feel like I have a book hangover. Great book, I really liked the characters and C. L Taylor always sets the scene and describes her characters perfectly so that you instantly like or dislike them. I didn't really like the main character Fran at first but as the story went on I warmed to her. This book is packed with lots of drama and twists which made it hard to put down. Definitely a 5 star book perfect for summer

Fran's sister, Jenna, disappeared two years ago on a wellness retreat in Gozo.
When Tom Wade, the man behind SoulsShrinks Retreat gets out of prison after serving a sentence for the death of two people, Jenna's mother forces Fran to book a place on his upcoming retreat.
Will Fran find out what happened to her sister?

As expected CL Taylor doesn't disappoint, and produces another unputdownable book.
I found myself sucked right in, even though the plot details were doled out slowly. It is a book full of suspense that keeps you racing through it to find out what happens next.
My only reservation is that I found the twist a bit far-fetched, and the whole story, overall, had a familiar feeling; I must have read another book about a wellness retreat before.
Nonetheless, this was a really good, and gripping read, and I highly recommend it, whether you're new to CL Taylor's work, or whether you've read some of her books already.