Thank you NetGalley, bookouture Audio, publisher and the author for the free ALC in exchange for honest review. It started iff super strong the female narrator was hard to understand at 2x had to slow down to 1.5x I thought i had figured out the twist and then the twist wasnt what i thought. Would have made a better psychological thriller if he wasnt and the wife thought he was feel the ending was rushed..

3.5/5☆

The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst
Narrated by Zoe Mills, Richard Burnip

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

The perfect holiday or the perfect nightmare…

I sit sipping champagne in the warm water, bubbles frothing around me as I admire the breath-taking view of gorgeous blue skies and mountains. I can’t believe I’m here, at this stunning holiday home. It’s to die for…

My best friend and her husband have invited me and my family to their lakeside property for the weekend, to experience their luxury lifestyle. I’m not envious of their wealth, although I know my husband Ryan is. All I want is to escape from our recent troubles and get my marriage back on track.

Then I overhear Ryan having a whispered conversation late one evening, and he says something that sends a shiver down my spine. In this beautiful paradise my whole world is turned upside down.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, I discover a second secret. The truth is even more shocking than I imagine, and now I have no idea who to trust.

This was meant to be the perfect holiday, but someone isn’t going to survive it…

My Opinion

Another Daniel Hurst book means another psychological thriller. I listened to this in one day as it was such a gripping plot. Told in multiple POVs, it soon becomes obvious that the friends are hiding multiple secrets. Hurst drip feeds the drama in this book, there are also lot of plot twists to grab your attention. Daniel Hurst has done it again!

Rating 4/5

2 stars

The story is extremely predictable and quite weak. The reader will easily foresee the major plot twist from the first pages.
Sadly, the other main reveal in the end didn't improve the book, but on the contrary, it made it a bit worse.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for allowing me to read this book!

I’ve established that I love a thriller or suspense novel that is set in remote Scotland! The Holiday Home caught my attention with this setting and then kept it through the twists and turns of the story. This book is full of secrets, lies, and betrayals that come out between friends on a vacation to a stunning home in the remote Scottish countryside. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook which is well narrated and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you @bookouture and @netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Audio Bookouture for this alc. Unfortunately was not so good as I wanted. Or my expectations are really high. I really liked the settings, Scotland is one of the places I really enjoy reading. I could not connect to the story, it was too slow and the things that should make me feel excited to contnue this time had not that effect to me. I hope next one is more for me.

There's no place like home,
There's no place like home,
There's no place like home.....

And there is also "no place like a holiday home"!

When Nicola's best friend Kim invites Nicola's family to Kim's family's luxury "holiday home" in rural Scotland, it's an offer that sounds too good to be true.

Too good to be true?

NO WAY!

Because not everyone who vacations in Kim's family's holiday home will be leaving the holiday home alive.

Told from multiple POVs, family secrets are revealed and tempers flare.

Author Daniel Hurst keeps readers guessing:
Who is the murderer? How many dead bodies?

Daniel Hurst is a gifted storyteller and I am a HUGE fan.

Some of Daniel Hurst's books are much better than others and, unfortunately, "The Holiday Home" is not one of Daniel Hurst's best books.

To the author's credit, the book was an entertaining and well-written popcorn thriller.

Many of the book's twists, however, were predictable (no gasps!), and that was disappointing.

I listened to the full-cast audiobook and both narrators did a superb job with the narration.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Nicola and her husband Ryan join her best friend Kim and her husband to their holiday home in Scotland for the weekend. If you’ve read any of Daniel Hurst’s books, you’ll know that it’s not going to be a drama-free, relaxing mini-break!! What starts out with minor grumblings turns into full-on hostilities. Not everyone returns home alive at the end of the weekend. You’ll have to tune in to find out all the drama!
*Thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for the advance audiobook!

This made me what to rip my ears out I couldn’t believe what I was listening to…badly plotted, weak annoying pointless characters, boring, no tension or suspense and full of outdated boys will be boys mantras…stuck in 2004

I have read the authors previous 20 mins series of books which I found were okay but did have questionable parts. I haven’t read any of his novels so when I saw this ARC I thought I’d give it a go wish I had not wasted my time. I now know why all his books are offered for free on kindle…utter rubbish

I wish male authors would stop trying to write woman characters this book is case in point Nicola and Kym were complete disasters and insulting to women. As for the male characters…MEH. And what was function of Emily starting her periods( of which was portrayed completely wrong) very strange

This book is full of outdated cliques and stereotypes that frankly leave a bad taste in my mouth.

The writer attempted to create tension and suspense but failed tragically what is seamless in other books of the same genres becomes awkward and misplaced here. The book is told is the first POV from multiply characters the writing style is very strange, the chapters often end with characters saying something in hindsight which is mismated in how the they are telling the rest of story it just doesn’t work

The characters come across even more dull and annoying in the audiobook. The audio sounds amateur and the little tension created in the print version is completely lost in the audiobook. I switched off after chapter 6 and skimmed the print versions to put end to this horror of a novel

For me this was big big miss

Thank you, Net Galley, for an audio ARC of The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst. This book is entertaining. Twist was good, ending was predictable. 3.5 🌟

DNF 50%. This is SERIOUSLY M.E.D.I.O.C.R.E. I don't even care if any of them will die or not. No likeable protagonists. Thank you Netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Daniel Hurst has done it again with The Holiday Home! A cracker of a thriller with an audio that was superb!
It all goes down with what appears to be a woman in mourning. Mourning what once was in her relationship to Ryan. They're married but appear to have this one nagging question, Was he unfaithful with Kim (bestie) of Nicholetta?
Well, you know it's probably fair to say this question almost always comes up in marital relationships at some point as it's almost inevitable. But in this case we have a possible love child born from this one day fling and it may just be a well kept secret for the past fifteen years as Cole isn't a baby anymore.
Wait, what?
Yes, Cole is now a teenager and he simply wants the truth. Why would Lewis (Kim's spouse) raise him as his own yet there's this talk in town that it's Ryan who gave him life?
After all everyone's an adult here but just imagine the pain and heartache that Nicholetta is facing.
Ok, scratch that ....I'm sorry, she did what? ......ARE YOU KIDDING ME????
There appears to be a disturbance. Someone was just shot. Kim was just arrested for murder.
In addition, this white lie may have been tucked away in Pandora's box never to be opened and so all we can now do is pray Emily (Nicholetta/Ryan's) daughter doesn't wish for truth like Cole sought.
YIKES!!!!
That was a fiery cauldron of hot mess!
Didn't even see that coming my way...
Thank you to Daniel Hurst, Bookouture Audio, Netgalley for this ARC audio in exchange for this honest review.

3.5 stars

This is an entertaining listen (obviously, I'm referencing the audiobook), but it does run a bit predictable. I recommend this for listening while accomplishing other tasks versus reading on the couch with full focus.

At the start of the work, two best friends, their husbands, and their children head off to a pleasant getaway at the titular "holiday home," and this home highlights an immediate power imbalance in the couples' respective bank accounts. Through narration, it becomes clear that there is much more happening beneath the surface and that this distinction is nothing compared to a hidden surprise or two.

As one expects in this genre, there is, at some point, a reveal that changes the group dynamic, and this results in further consequences. I would have loved a bit more surprise in this area, but despite some expected outcomes, this remains an entertaining read.

I'll be back for more from this author and his twisted characters!

Another gripping thriller from one of my favourite authors.

Nicola and Kim have been best friends for years, ever since they met at college, and they have continued to spend a lot of time together with their families, despite their financial situations diverging somewhat.

Whilst Ryan is not motivated by monetary gain, Lewis is reaping vast rewards from the success of his business, including a luxurious holiday cabin in the Scottish Highlands, which the two families are travelling to for a weekend break after Nicola is able to persuade Ryan to get over his reluctance to accept the free holiday.

The cabin is even more luxurious than they imagined and they soon make their way to the hot tub, although Nicola is wary of being so exposed with the storm nearby, which also seems to have severed the internet connection much to Kim's son's annoyance, along with any means of communication with the outside world.

Having just started to relax, Nicola is soon left reeling from a revelation which changes everything she thought she knew.

The story unfolds from multiple perspectives as the secrets emerge, complete with the author's killer twists

Love Daniel Hurst and recently read the doctors wife which I loved. This book bursts from the first page like a horse at the gate and never stops running. It’s a wild ride. Not as many twists as I’m used to with Daniels books nevertheless a solid four star read/listen. Great narration. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC! I’ve read a few of Daniel's books and I’ve enjoyed them. This thriller fell flat for me unfortunately, felt more like a drama to me. I liked the dual narrators, but I didn’t find myself loving the plot.

I’ve enjoyed Daniels other books, so I’ll continue to read books by him!

Two couples embark on a luxury getaway, but it’s not long before their friendships begin to fray at the edges. With a marriage already on the rocks, the scene is set for jealousy, anger, betrayal and revenge. This is a quick enjoyable, if somewhat predictable thriller

Daniel Hurst is an author that I will read and recommend anything they put out. I do not think The Holiday Home is their best work but it is really well done.

The story follows two couples who go away on a joint vacation. For years there has been a web of lies that set a series of events into action on this trip. You find out the major twist of this book very early on. I didn’t see it coming and I loved seeing how much that changed every character from then on.

It’s hard to discuss a book like this without spoilers. This is one of those books that is an experience you need to have for yourself. It is very short and really has no downtime. My only complaint is the lack of a meaningful twist toward the end. You are hit with one final twist but in my opinion, it doesn't have much of an effect at that point of the story.

At this rate, I think I will recommend Daniel Hurst's entire library. Don’t miss this fast fun thriller.