I had really high hopes for this book and absolutely love thrillers usually but this one seemed to be lacking the spark. It was very lengthy with too much unnecessary chatting. I usually like C L Taylor’s books but this one did not impress me.

3 stars.

Though this was an interesting story, it was hard to feel any empathy for these characters, they came across as rather unlikeable.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Two years ago, Jenna went to a retreat in Malta organized by Tom Wade, the man behind SoulShrink. But she didn’t come home. She disappeared and the local authorities judged that she had committed suicide jumping from a cliff.
Two other accidents took place on that retreat leaving Tom in prison for manslaughter. However, he will be released soon.
Jenna’s mother is set on blaming Tom for her daughter’s death. She sends her daughter, Fran, to the retreat that Tom organized (or rather his wife, Kate).
The book is told from 3 perspectives, Jenna in the past, Fran in the present, and Kate’s.

The book was easy to read and I finished it rather quickly. I found the first half more interesting, we were learning more about Fran’s family, Tom, and what happened two years ago.

However, I couldn’t understand how the mother would force her daughter to go to a retreat that she believes killed Jenna. Isn’t she worried about her daughter’s life? While sister’s dynamics usually interest me, having a sister myself, I simply couldn’t like it here. There was an astonishing lack of communication and Fran was very selfish not trying to connect with Jenna growing up. I also found the story difficult to believe especially with that plot twist at the end. The thrill of mystery for me is the possibility that these events might happen in real life. These simply, wouldn’t.

Another thing I didn’t like is that the second half kind of got repetitive, especially with Kate. I didn’t find her perspective very useful to the story. But it’s not like I particularly liked any of the characters either. I was mostly indifferent about them.

This is my first book by C.L. Taylor and while this book didn’t impress me, it won’t be my last.

This was my first introduction to books by C.L.Taylor and I shall certainly go back and read the others.
This story was told from the perspective of 3 people over 2 time periods.
The interesting plot kept me wanting to find out what happened
I really enjoyed it and if you like a who dunnit then this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Reading a C. L. Taylor novel has the same effect on me as watching Criminal or The Alienist 📺 it is absolute comfort zone time, at its best. “Her Last Holiday” was my third book by this author & I have read it over the period of 10 days, enjoying it in little bits every day.

Tom Wade, infamous guru and leader of self-help counselling group SoulShrink, has just been released from prison after being sentenced for his involvement in the mysterious deaths of two people. Tom’s wife Kate seizes this opportunity to arrange for a new SoulShrink 💬 retreat session on the country-side. What neither of them knows is that one of the participants has applied using a false name – Fran is not here for the counselling, she needs to solve a very important question.

Her Last Holiday
By C. L. Taylor
My Rating: 4 🌟
This book came with strong “Sleep” vibes (for fellow readers of C. L. Taylor novels) – I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thriller that reads like a cosy mystery and is a real “who dun it”.

Thank you very much @avon_books for the kind NetGalley ARC; I have enjoyed this novel a lot.

A most enjoyable multiple character viewpoint mystery that kept me guessing for a long time. There are plenty of twists, turns, roundabouts, suspicious and never a dull moment from start to finish.

My first book by this author and after a slow start I enjoyed it. Two years ago Fran’s sister Jenna goes missing on a wellness retreat in Gozo, their mother has a hard time accepting her presumed death and signs up to go an another retreat run by the same couple, Tom and Kate. When her mother has an accident she persuades Fran to take her place to try and discover what happened to Jenna. There are plenty of red herrings and twists as Fran struggles to find the truth and solve the mystery.

What a fun, twisty read! Her Last Holiday kept me second guessing myself the whole time! With alternating POVs, Taylor keeps the reader on their toes. Family secrets, marriage secrets, death and a missing woman makes this book a delicious read!

I received #HerLastHoliday as an ARC courtesy of #NetGalley and #HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review

A unique plot with a dark gritty undercurrent. I enjoyed the storyline immensely. The characters were well written. I found the story to play out a little slower than I would like and as such it took me a bit longer than usual to complete it. The ending however gave the story an extra bit of oomph and made it more enjoyable. There were lots of twists and turns and surprises around every corner. Overall it was a good read.

A woman wants to discover the truth about her sister's mysterious death in a group retreat two years ago... Who's lying? Who's telling the truth?

I'm sorry to say this book is another thriller I'll forget real soon, despite the interesting idea of the group retreat... Unfortunately, the author never managed to grab my attention. Also, there were too many characters and I never felt close to any of them.

I only finished it because I'm curious by nature and wanted to know how it would end. I finally skimmed through the second half and, just as I thought it got better, there was a twist about a culprit that totally fell flat.

I have a couple of C. L. Taylor's books on my TBR and I'm still gonna read them. This one just wasn't for me.

2.5 stars

Many thanks to Avon books UK and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Publication date: April 29, 2021

A good setting, a good start but a disappointing book. Everything started so well, a bit of mystery set in England, the appeal of a countryside retreat and revenge! A perfect cocktail to read cuddled up under the duvet! It just did not live to expectations, the ending is still unexpected but feels really far fetched when you were led consistently one way. Not a bad book , but one just worth filling up time sadly.

A corkscrew roller coaster is how I would describe this book. What a read it was that I enjoyed and I could not put down. Tom and Kate run a posh sweat lodge retreat for people with "problems." Fran, who goes by the name of Geraldine, books a stay to try and find out what happened to her sister who disappeared from there 3 years prior. Caroline, who goes by the name of Joy, is a reporter wanting to write a story about Tom who was recently released from prison. There are a lot of strange, dysfunctional characters in this story that is told is a then and now format with different narrators. Fran (Geraldine) and Caroline (Joy) add to the confusion by using there alternative names. Overall, it is a good read with a lot of suspense and surprises in it.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this very exciting book that was a real page turner in exchange for an honest review.

Fran books herself into Soul Shrink Retreats to try to find out what happened to her sister who visited the retreat a few years ago and disappeared. Is Tom Wade the man behind the retreat innocent and as nice as he seems. This is another gripping book by CL Taylor who never disappoints and takes you on a thrilling adventure. Read and enjoy.

An interesting, slow paced mystery with a lot of drama. I loved the premise of a sister looking into what happened to her sister. With a cast of several excellent suspects at the retreat, I was entertained, even if I did guess the twist. A light beach read.

An excellent read - as usual with this author. An intriguing plot line, which builds up throughout the story, creates tension. Would recommend.

Normally I am. a great fan of this author but I struggled with this novel. But it’s possibly a case of it’s me, not you syndrome as I have just had hip replacement surgery and am in a degree of pain.

I found the problem with this novel is that it jumped around too much and I got confused with who was who and on what timeline. The two sisters tended to blur in to one too. And none of the characters were likeable.

C.L Taylor has done it again! Yet another of her books I couldn't put down, read it in less than 24 hours and was rather sad to finish it in a way. I had great fun desperately trying to figure out what happened before I read the answers, nothing like a good mystery to engage my brain.

Following the lives of two sisters, Fran and Jenna, you slowly weave together a picture of what really happened in Gozo on the night of Jenna's disappearance.
Throughout the whole book, I found myself never quite sure who to trust. Everyone has their own secrets hidden just below the surface but you often have no idea just how damaging those secrets are behind the facade.

Right from the get-go, Tom Wade is painted as the villain, newly released from prison after serving 3 years for the accidental deaths of two of his clients at a wellness retreat. With Jenna assumed to have committed suicide, no one was held responsible for her disappearance, yet Fran and her mother were adamant to find Tom and get the truth.

The more you learn about Tom, his wife Kate and the others on the retreat, the less sure you can be about anything that's going on. Tom is not the villain he seems, Kate is no saint and no one seems to be telling the truth about their motives for being there.

C L Taylor is one of my favourite authors so I’m very happy to be reviewing her upcoming book “Her Last Holiday”.

She’s a master of twisty shocking tales and this is no exception!

Francs sister Jenna went missing / presumed dead on a retreat a few years ago, now the man in charge has been released from prison and he’s started a new retreat. Of course Fran has to go but there’s some shocks along the way...

Thrilling! Loved this. I really enjoyed how Fran was not a likeable character, she’s harsh and takes no shit but not in a likeable way...I feel like this really added to the story and really showed the differences between her and Jenna. I loved to hate Kate! What a character!

A fantastic 4/5.

Loved this! Read it in a couple of hours. A well conceived plot, I didn't guess the ending until just before it was revealed. Definitely will be recommending this!

Fran is determined to find out the truth behind her sister Jenna’s disappearance and supposed suicide. She went missing on a retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong after two people died. It was run by the charismatic Tom Wade who went to prison for the deaths but never explained what happened to Jenna.
Fran sees that on Tom’s release he is running another retreat and books on to it hoping to find the truth and come to terms with her sister’s death. She is convinced that Tom is to blame and wants to make him pay.
Full of suspense this kept me gripped to the end, loved it!