Told from different characters points of view with Nicola being the main narrator. It was an ok storyline but nothing in the way of a new storyline that we haven’t read before. For me it was a little predictable and not much in the way of surprises or significant twists. The narration really grated on me and just didn’t flow well. It came across as very stilted. The characters I didn’t really connect with in any way and didn’t find them overly likeable. Overall it was an ok listen but not one that will stand out to me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to #TheHolidayHome

This is about two couples that go away to a vacation home. Once there, arguments start, tensions rise, secrets come out, lies are exposed….. things escalate to violence.
This one was super entertaining and fantastic on audio!

I have listened to one of Daniel's previous books, The Couple in the Cabin, and really enjoyed it but this just didn't hit the spot for me unfortunately.

Nicola and her family have been invited to spend the weekend with her best friend and her family in their luxurious but isolated cabin in the wilds of Scotland but things soon go awry when Nicola overhears something that turns the idyllic weekend break into a nightmare.

Sounds good doesn't it ... well, it started off well and although I didn't really get on with any of the characters, it didn't really bother me but as the story progressed, it became a little predictable and I wasn't overly surprised or enthralled by how it developed.

The narrators did a great job and did try to bring tension and excitement to the story but, alas, it didn't really work for me but it won't put me off reading or listening to Daniel's books in the future; this one was just didn't work for me unfortunately.

My thanks go to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Holiday Home.

This is the second Daniel Hurst book I have read. I must admit, I did not enjoy this book as much as The Doctor's Wife, which I highly recommend. I found that the characters, especially Nicola, seemed awfully eager to believe the worst about their spouses and friends and I was unpleasantly surprised how quickly she would turn on them. Clearly there was something that caused her to do so but there was not enough character development to justify the abrupt turn-around.

Wow! This was a great book w/some good twists and turns. No one should trust anyone in this group, clearly! And the one at the end I did NOT see coming!! I am definitely looking up more books by this Daniel Hurst!

#TheHolidayHome
#NetGalley.

This was my first book by this author and now I am hooked. Two families head out together for what is supposed to be a fun, relaxing family holiday. What could possibly go wrong? Betrayals, long held secrets that come to light, revenge, backstabbing, lies, more lies, twists and turns and just when you think you’ve figured it out, take a step back. You don’t and it will knock your socks off. They all start out seeming like good people and yet, there is not a single decent adult amongst them. It’s a twisted well written story that will have you creeped out and heading to find more from this author like I did. The narration was wonderful.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley. I was excited to read this new thriller by Daniel Hurst. The book was easy to follow and read, however, it left me wanting more.

I don't love the basis for the plot and find it hard to believe this would ever actually happen or be kept a secret for this long. Surely if they were this obvious about it, it would have been discovered much sooner. If Ryan had only just discovered the truth recently, it might make more sense for him to be so obvious and careless.

Other than that, the book was fine, not bad but not great.

Nicola and Ryan, together with their 11 year old daughter, Emily, have been invited by Nicola's best friend since 6th form, Kim, to join her and her husband Lewis and their 15 year old son, Cole. They will heading to their newly acquired lodge for a long weekend in a remote setting just outside Glencoe. They all set off in a large car from Preston for the long journey North into the Scottish Highlands.

It is undoubtedly a house that was priced well into the 7 figure range, constructed of beautiful fireproofed wood, with a hot tub on the veranda and all mod cons. There is a sense that it is not Kim who wishes to show off their luxury purchase, but her husband, Lewis, who is seemingly forever climbing the greasy pole of business and personal achievement.

There is, however, friction between the mal adults, which comes to a head early on in the weekend. Teenager Cole is caught downing a bottle of beer in his room, given to him by Ryan, against the express wishes of his father, Lewis. Upon discovering this misdemeanour, Lewis has a good old rant and hissy fit, and it feels like he has potentially quite an abusive relationship with Cole.

That night, as the families turn in, Nicola spots a text on her husband's phone, and what she sees on the screen leaves her anxiety mounting and suspicious mind working overtime. She then overhears two other people talking and the secret that is revealed, totally knocks her equilibrium.

The second half of the story deals with how the characters come to terms with secrets revealed, and we know, right from the outset, that things are going to go very awry, with a final reveal. The sound of a gunshot is mentioned.

The chapters are short and sharp, ending in small cliffhangers, which makes it a snappy read. Overall for me, however, this novel has just too many obvious devices to move the plot along. The characters speak to camera, as it were, ruminating and posing rhetorical questions, offering background and insights into the trajectory of each of the character's lives.

Sometimes the dynamics feel stretched - mum Kim yearns for Cole to be more attentive to their daughter, Emily, as there is only a 4 year age gap between the two, but a 15 year old wouldn't by choice be seen dead (no pun intended) in the company an 11 year little girl, surely all adults know that (don't they?). Cole, on the journey up, gets stroppy because his parents won't switch the radio on - is this really a 15 year old without headphones and a music device? Not possible! Later we discover that he does, in fact, have a full playlist on his phone so the episode in the car feels like a device to illustrate that he can be an annoying and grumpy teenager.

Emily has a meltdown because her first period arrives, totally unexpected, and Mum is summoned urgently from the hot tub to attend to her daughter. Nicola regrets (musing to herself) not having taken the time to explain puberty to her daughter. It is such a cliché and unrealistic representation, and it was a clear construct to get Mum out of the hot tub, just as she is going to share her suspicions gleaned the evening before. Then, those still remaining in the hot tub, go on to discuss THE major secret but - ahem - within Kim's earshot, just as she happens to be standing at the open window above the bubbling waters (hot tubs can be quite noisy, so it is surprising their voices carried, but anyway, this is fiction, so anything is possible...)

Later, the three males in the party set out on a trek to find somewhere where they can find a phone signal, given the internet is down at the house. The car has packed up (Cole is to blame for that issue), so they are in search of a mechanic - clearly no-one is a member of the AA or RAC (vehicle recovery companies). As the route march continues, it is fortuitous that Cole decides to spontaneously climb a tree (as you do), is then out of earshot, and this gives one of the husbands the opportunity to share a secret with the other husband.

It just all gets so ludicrous and circular, as the past is trawled and hypotheses about possible future developments are  chewed through interminably. Round and round the implausible story goes. The characters never really mature and often feel 2 dimensional in their responses to any given situation. Anyway, there is a gunshot but that galvanises the characters into more fretful and agonised contemplation and action.

There are some notable irritations for grammar enthusiasts.

This author has a loyal following, so perhaps I will leave you to make up your own mind about The Holiday Home.

Great new psychological thriller with some fun twisty turns. It was a short listen. Nothing too heavy but a little drama to make you stick with it.

Both narrators, Zoe Mills and Richard Burnip, were wonderful. Their emotion and urgency in key scenes rang through. They brought the story to life and made it fun to listen.

Thankyou to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC.

Absolutely love Daniel Hurst's work, and this was no exception! The audio version was great, with dual narrators. Loved their tone and inflections. Nicola and Ryan are doing a family weekend wiith Nicola's best friend Kim and her husband. Known for his twists, Hurst does it again with a novel full of twists and fast-paced. I recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the chance to review this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nicola can not believe her good fortune when her best friend, Kim, has invited her and her family to join them at their expensive palatal holiday home in Scotland, all expenses paid. Her husband Ryan is not as excited, although he has known the best friends for years, he is not a fan of Kim's husband, Lewis, or his parental style over their son, Cole. This luxury vacation quickly turns into a living nightmare as long buried secrets surface and tensions boil over. At the end of this holiday no one will ever be the same.

I was very excited to receive a copy of Daniel Hurst newest novel and thought the description was intriguing. The set up and the premise of the suspense in this story is well done but for me the characters fell very flat. When secrets start to emerge, Ryan and Kim come off as selfish and heartless, Nicola is a bit one note and I do not understand Lewis' motivations (he felt contrived). The story is told from POV of both Nicola and Ryan which I thought was an interesting dynamic. I had not read any of Hurst's previous work and would like to check out more of his writing, this was just a bit too flat.

I had the audio version read by Zoe Mills and Richard Burnip who both did a nice job and would enjoy listening to more of their work.

The Holiday Home
Daniel Hurst
What could be better than a free vacation in a luxury cottage overlooking a loch in Scotland. Money was tight for Nicola and Ryan. When Nicola’s best friend Kim invited Nicola and her family to join Kim and her family on vacation it seemed like the ideal situation. Champagne, wine, hot tub, the view of the mountain, what could be better. Nicola wasn’t jealous of her friend’s wealth she was happy for them. But there was a rivalry between Nicola’s husband Ryan and Kim’s husband Lewis. Ryan was jealous, making the atmosphere strained. When Nicola sees a text from Kim to Ryan alluding to a secret they must keep. The secret will change all of their lives forever. Ryan’s sardonic comments and Lewis’ superiority don’t make for a fun weekend. The car they arrive in is out of commission and there isn’t any cell service.
This book had great potential but fell short in several places. Why would Nicola wait so long to talk to her husband about the secret. Why not just confront him. Why did Nicola ask Lewis if he thought their spouses might be too close. I would have confronted my husband before speaking with my friend’s husband. The story is told mostly from Nicola’s point of view. I found Nicola annoying. There were a lot of twists and turns which kept me listening.

This was a quick but enjoyable listen about two couples who travel to a holiday home in the wilds of Scotland where secrets are gradually revealed. Because of the short, punchy chapters it kept me listening when I really should have been going to sleep, but I did guess the ending. None of the characters are particularly likeable but the setting is magnificent.

This was a fun thriller with suspense with everyone trapped in the holiday home both long kept secrets and new will be revealed. As everything starts to unravel, including the people the suspense increases leading to the final climax. I really enjoyed listening to this, especially with the dual narrators and short chapters I couldn't stop listening and had to know what happened next. This was a really easy read with a different set of secrets than you usually find in most thrillers so I was actually surprised and kept on the edge of my seat. I found this unique and will definitely recommend and check out more by this author.

Two families, one luxurious holiday home and an isolated location. This story worked so well as an audiobook with lots of ominous lines: "Not everyone will leave alive." The chapters are short and tension filled; the dual narrators worked well to alternative the differing POVs of the characters and slowly unravel the story.

From the offset, deep fissures are apparent in the marriages and friendships of the two families. Long kept secrets bubble to the surface. There is a gun missing and malicious intentions directed at one unknown member of the group. I found this a quick, enthralling, and highly entertaining listen.
#theholidayhome #Danielhurst #netgalley

3.5+ stars

This was a fun little story. It was a bit suspenseful, but at a certain point, it seemed like there was only a couple ways the story could really go; it went one of those directions and then was a bit over-the-top dramatic, but I did enjoy it. I feel like I usually get what I want/expect out of this writer’s books, and I’m happy with that.

As soon as i picked this up I was so obsessed, the drama mixed in with betrayal had me flying through the chapters. The lies, dark secrets and deception made me question everyones motives. Another great novel by Daniel Hurst and now he's swiftly becoming a go to author.

This was an okay mystery/thriller for me. This is my go-to genre so I can predict a lot of things in advance and love books that surprise me. This one does have a twist, but it didn’t give me the mind-blowing surprise that I look for in a great thriller. I would definitely recommend this one to someone just getting into the genre. It’s a slow-burn, mild, thriller without too many twists and turns. I also think they tried to make the young daughter act younger than 11– which threw me off a bit.

the setup…
Nicola, her husband Ryan and their 11-year old daughter Emily are spending a vacation in the Scottish Highlands with her best friend Kim, her husband Lewis and their 15-year old son Cole. The house is a luxurious log cabin, a reflection of Lewis’s business success, which he never passes up an opportunity to flaunt. Nicola and Kim have been best friends since college but Ryan and Lewis seem to only tolerate each other for their wives’ sakes. Nicola is having a wonderful time until she overhears her husband whispering about a devastating secret, one that is life changing.

the heart of the story…
Based on Ryan’s behavior, I’d sort of guessed what that secret was going to be but it didn’t affect my interest because it was all about how Nicola digested and handled the information. Her reaction was authentic and I bonded with her in where her mind went. There were other little twists and surprises so it wasn’t all too predictable. We eventually got the points of view of everyone except Emily but it was Nicola’s perspective that shaped the story.

the narration…
I enjoyed the performances overall but the voice for Cole just didn’t come across like that of a 15-year old boy. That was a hard sell and I couldn’t buy it. Otherwise, the storytelling worked.

the bottom line…
I’m a fan of the author, noted for his delicious twists and that’s a component in this one. The story was entertaining but didn’t leave me stunned as the others had before. It’s still an interesting tale and I never lost interest. 3.5 stars

This is my second book by Daniel Hurst, and after reading his first, I knew I wanted to read more. When I saw The Holiday Home being released soon, I knew it would be perfect for me! Holiday setting, thriller, suspense, secrets- what more is there to love??

This story takes place in the woods of Scottland when two family friends travel to a remote vacation home to have a quiet holiday. This novel has many points of view, but the main point of view is from the main character Nicola, and she is away with her family on holiday with her best friend and her family. Nicola and Kim have been best friends since forever, and they love spending time together with each other's families. That is until Nicola discovers one secret after another that turns the “quiet” vacation away into a nightmare.

This was a fast paced, quick read that kept me entertained from beginning to end. I liked the concept and some of the big surprises in the plot, however I was disappointed with the ending, and it came up short for me. I remember when it was over yelling out “Thats it?! I want more!!” Looking forward to reading other Daniel Hursts novels, and the Holiday Home is newly out as of March 2023. 3 out 5 stars.