Overall this book was a good read, it had some good twists. However it wasn’t what I was expecting somehow,

Threads Loosen..
Tensions rise over the Christmas period leading to, perhaps, unexpected results in this dark domestic noir. Relayed effectively with the use multiple narratives, viewpoints are exposed and the drama escalates as threads loosen and the family tapestry inevitably falls apart. Twists and turns litter an immersive plot populated by well drawn and credible characters and where more detail is given over to the domestic drama saga than the murder mystery. A well done insight into a, mainly, appalling family enduring extreme tragedy and who are most definitely not having a Merry Christmas.

The author did an excellent job of describing Neil and how he was struggling with depression, poor self esteem, was feeling like a failure as he couldn't get his wife pregnant and was dreading the Christmas holiday. Neil really wanted to stay home but his wife-Sacha told him they needed to spend it with her family as her father is dying. Your heart goes out to Neil as he is struggling and once you meet all of Sacha's family even more so.

This family is so dysfunctional that you will be thankful you don't have to spend the holidays with them. So much family drama, lies, murder and of course jealousy make for one Christmas you won't soon forget.

This is a pretty heavy emotional read for a holiday book.

This book was just not what expected it to be…
I read this book as an ARC.
I don’t think this book can count as a thriller or crime book.
However, it wasn’t fun for me. I was really happy when I finished it… it was boring. Nothing exciting happens and everything is predictable. You can predict who the killer is and there are not any plot twists.
I can’t say more about this book. I’m sorry.

here were some great twists, and at 275 pages, it was a quick read. . Only the first 40% of the book takes place during Christmas, so I do wish it were a bit more Christmassy, and there was something I would have liked more of an explanation on, but overall I really enjoyed this one!

Christmas + thriller = SIGN ME UP! I loved this. I love the writing style. I loved the twists and turns. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to reach this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I rcvd a copy of this book via NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I wanted to like this book. A family murder mystery over the Christmas holiday sounded like great fun. However, I couldn't find a character that I actually liked. It was so hard reading Neil. All he did was moan and complain. The "poor me" behavior got old fast. Did anyone in this family even remotely like each other?

I've heard good things about the author and will try another of her books however this one was not for me.

First of all Thank you, THANK YOU for the opportunity to read this book. Normally, I am not a Psychological Thriller fan,but Last Christmas changed all of that. I thought that I had everything figured out but oh boy, I was wrong. This is one that I believe I must purchase when it is released in November.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Maria Frankland and #Bookouture for the opportunity to read an advance copy of LAST CHRISTMAS, to be republished November 10, 2023. 5/5 Stars for this family ensemble of intrigue and suspense. Everyone has secrets, but those in this family pretty well outweigh most others! I expected a warm, heartening feeling from the title. Wow was I surprised! It’s not what it seems is the ongoing theme. As the novel moves through one trial after another, the members of the family are seriously affected until the bitter end. Great read. #NetGalley #Bookouture #MariaFrankland #LastChristmas

Sacha and her husband are visiting her family for Christmas. Her father us unwell and everyone wants to be together for his last christmas. Sascha's husband Neil is struggling with chronic depression and causes a few minor issues with her family. Then suddenly Neil ends up dead. Who killed her hubsand. Was it an accident?


This book had me hooked from the very first page. I believe I read it in under 1 day. I figured out the story pretty early on in the book but I still very much enjoyed the plot.


Thank you to Netglalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of this item exchage for an honest review.

#LastChristmas #NetGalley
A good read.
Neil and Sacha have travelled to her parents as it is probably the last Christmas her terminally ill father will celebrate.
Neil does not want to go, he has never felt part of Sacha's family. He is battling depression, alcoholism and his marriage seems to be collapsing as well.
Christmas day, things come to a head between him and his toxic brother in law, and Sacha's mother sends them out on a walk to sort things out.
Only one man returns.
Starting was a bit slow but it picked up soon.
It's a fun read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.

Maria Frankland, the Queen of dark domestic drama, does it again. Take one perfectly ordinary family and throw them in the pressure cooker that is Christmas. Well ordinary in so much that this is to be dad’s last Christmas as he is suffering from terminal cancer. No pressure there to make it the best Christmas ever. Ordinary in so much as one of the son-in-laws is suffering from clinical depression and his wife, Sacha, despises him for his inability to hold down a job, give her a child and stop drinking. The in-laws don’t like him much either and he’d rather be anywhere else than spending Christmas with the wife’s family. Ordinary in so much that two of the sisters don’t like each other much either. Sacha can’t bear to look at Rebecca who is about to give birth to her third child.

Looks like a recipe for disaster and that is just what it is, however, even in their wildest dreams the family could not have envisaged what a disaster. Fortunately I was on holiday when I started reading this because I just had to know what was going to happen. How would this end? I read solidly until midnight and only stopped then because I could not keep my eyes open. I picked it up first thing the following morning.

Frankland keeps the suspense going until the last possible moment and the end certainly blindsided me. I can thoroughly recommend this thrilling read.

Wow! I can honestly say this is the best book I have read for a long time, the twists and turns kept on coming. I couldn't put this book down and it kept me up until the early hours this morning. The story was believable and I really felt myself routing for Neil at the beginning and that ending! Put a massive smile on my face I was not expecting that. Thank you so much for letting me review this book I loved it

Thank you to Netgallery and the publishers for this ARC.
This is my first time reading from this author wow what a book! This is the perfect whodunnit book which is full of suspense and many twists and turns! The characters were well written my favourite character was Sascha.
This is one of the best domestic thrillers I have ever read! It had it all, love, hate, tension, remorse, sadness. I loved every minute of reading it! 😊

It is Christmas, and Neil and Sacha have travelled to her parents as it is probably the last Christmas her terminally ill father will celebrate.
Neil does not want to go, he has never felt part of Sacha's family. He is battling depression, alcoholism and his marriage seems to be collapsing as well.
Christmas day, things come to a head between him and his toxic brother in law, and Sacha's mother sends them out on a walk to sort things out.
Only one man returns.

Well, I have to say I could barely bring myself to put this highly suspenseful book down! The story weaves between the members of the family, highlighting their jealousies, and the competing for their parent's attention and love.
I cannot say I liked Sacha very much at all. Her behaviour was horrible, and as the book progressed, I found that she really wasn't a nice person.

I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, but I had my suspicions as to who put Sacha in hospital, and I was right.

Maria Frankland certainly knows how to write a psychological thriller, and keep the reader avidly turning pages!

I just have a problem with the timeline. Neil's funeral takes place in late January, the inquest late February, and by then, Sacha has been in a coma for 7-8 weeks. Or am I reading it wrong?

Apart from that, I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I usually read light or romance Christmas novels - usually ones that are hallmark style or HEA. So reading a Christmas thriller was very different and I enjoyed it!

This captivating novel, skillfully penned by a talented author, is propelled forward by the intricate web of family dynamics. It's a riveting tale of murder and mayhem, and I must emphasize that attempting to predict the ending is an exercise in futility. The title itself is intriguing, adding another layer of mystery to the narrative. Brace yourselves for a genuine page-turner!

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are brilliantly crafted, each with their own complexities and secrets, making them utterly compelling. The protagonist's journey is one filled with uncertainty and a lingering sense of distrust, particularly with her husband absent from the picture.

As I turned the pages, I found myself engrossed in the story, unable to tear myself away. The suspense and plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and I relished every moment.

I'll be eagerly looking out for more works by this author in the future. This novel was a thrilling ride from start to finish, and I highly recommend it to fellow readers. Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to delve into this gripping story!

If you are tired of the happy, light-hearted fun so common in the Christmas season, this just may be your book.

A family spends too much time in too close quarters with plenty of alcohol and stress between them leads to the possibility of murder.

A psychological thriller looking at the very dark side to the holiday.

"Last Christmas" by Maria Frankland is a page-turning psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Frankland masterfully weaves a complex web of suspense, mystery, and chilling twists, leaving you guessing until the last page.

The characters in this novel are brilliantly crafted, each with secrets and hidden agendas. Frankland's ability to create such well-developed and intriguing characters is genuinely commendable. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn deeper into their lives, relationships, and darkest secrets.

The plot is gripping and filled with unexpected turns. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Frankland throws another curveball that will leave you guessing and questioning everything you thought you knew.

Simply put, wow, Frankland's book was fantastic, in my opinion. It is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and domestic thrillers. Prepare to be enthralled, captivated, and thoroughly entertained by this gripping tale of secrets, lies, and the darkness that lurks beneath the surface. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read and review this book.

Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
*******************************************************

The doorbell cuts through the sound of the howling wind outside. Snowflakes from the freezing December air whirl into the house as I open the front door to the police. The look on their faces says everything. My husband is dead. Did one of my family kill him?

Only a few hours ago we were all celebrating by the fire, Christmas lights twinkling on the tree. Now my husband is gone forever. I’ll never get the chance to say I’m sorry our last words were so angry. And as I sob into my mother’s arms I have to face the terrible truth. We’re not the loving family we seem.

My younger sister has always been difficult. Why won’t she look me in the eye?

My brothers-in-law never liked my husband. Would they have taken it that far?

And my older sister’s drinking is out of control. But can she really not remember anything from last night?
As devastating accusations are thrown my world falls apart in front of my eyes. Because everyone in my family – everyone I trusted – has been hiding secrets. Are we also hiding a killer? And how far will I have to go, to discover the truth about what happened to my husband?

Oh, the joy of family holidays --- you know those things that I avoid at all costs and I am sure that some of you want to avoid as well! The fights, the drinking … the murder??? This is a lovely twisty tale that will keep you enthralled for hours – a new author to me, I will welcome reading more books from her as this one was utterly enjoyable.

#shortbutsweetreviews