Absolutely loved this thriller! The writing and dialogue is so descriptive, you feel like you are a part of the book! The twists and parallels between the different POVs were perfectly tied in. Definitely recommend this book to lovers of thrillers and mysteries!

First of all, thank you to Net Galley for the ARC copy of this book.
I devoured this book and really enjoyed the writing style. We follow Frida and Gabriel through dual times lines of their childhood being raised in a cult and adulthood that brings many challenges including 2 suspicious deaths. I wouldn’t call this one a thriller but a murder mystery. I didn’t see the twist coming at the end until it was almost obvious. But in the end, they teach us a lot about family.

Not what I was expecting, but in a good way. So many books lately are about friends/groups/couples/families going to a resort, or an island, or a secluded hotel, and mysteries ensue. While a resort was in the storyline, it is not THE storyline. The storyline spans years, from when Frida and Gabriel were children in a cult, to when they are adults trying to navigate separate lives. Do we ever really overcome our childhood traumas? Do the traumas shape our way of thinking for life?

"The Last Resort" initially presented a slow progression during the first quarter, leading me to nearly abandon the book. I struggled to connect with the characters until I reached about the halfway point. It took that long for me to acclimate to the author's writing style and the narrative's rhythm. However, once I found my footing, I became captivated by Frida and Gabriel’s experiences growing up in a cult and their subsequent adaptation to the outside world. The introduction of a couple of murders transformed the second half into an exhilarating page-turner that I simply couldn't set aside, ultimately earning it a well-deserved four-star rating!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'Our Last Resort' by Clemence Michallon - expected release date 07/08/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I was OBSESSED with Michallon's debut, so I had really high hopes and was really excited for her second book. This one left me feeling... underwhelmed? Her first was so riveting, and such a psychological mind mess, but this one just didn't have that same umph to it. The writing is kinda messy and there really wasn't any big mystery to figure out... We pretty much knew that William, the husband, killed his wife Sabrina and I figured that Frida killed Annie, I just didn't really know why (even that was predicable though once explained, so I can't believe I didn't put it together). It wasn't a terrible read, just don't go into it expecting a similar one to her debut.

I really did enjoy this book, however, I think I was so blown away by how good her debut The Quiet Tenant was that this one fell a little bit short for me. Tenant was such a powerhouse and my expectations of this one were too high. I loved the cult aspect to it and the flashbacks to their previous life. Clemence is an amazing author!

Our Last Resort follows Frieda as she vacations at a hotel in Utah with her brother. While on this vacation a woman at the hotel is found murdered and blame starts being passed around. Overall I enjoyed the story and the dual timelines. It was interesting peeling back each layer of Frieda’s life and understanding how she got to where she is today. It was a little difficult to get into at the beginning due to the way Frieda thinks in very fractured and distracted thoughts. This is probably due to the OCD and trauma, but it still took a bit to get used to.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the ARC of Clémence Michallon’s 2nd novel Our Last Resort. I devoured her first novel The Quiet Tenant and was beyond excited to receive another ARC for this author. The story was fast paced and kept my attention the whole time. I will say I did see the ending coming from the very beginning and that I enjoyed this authors first novel more but honestly it was a wonderful easy going thriller with enough drama and storyline from current time to past time that I still very much enjoyed it. Will absolutely continue to read more books by this author going forward!

I devoured Michallon's The Quiet Tenant, and was so excited to read her newest book, Our Last Resort.

This book has a lot going for it- cutting to the action immediately, a cult, going back and forth between the past and present. Siblings with a dark history and lies. Now there's a dead guest at a hotel and secrets are going to come out.

... However...

This felt more domestic thriller/murder mystery than the beautiful, suspenseful book that was Michallon's debut.

Our Last Resort was a good whodunit, but I would not call it overly twisty or thrilling. I also struggled to care about any of the characters, and felt like parts of it did nothing to propel the story line.

A solid 3.5 rounded to 4. Solid book, but felt like a letdown after The Quiet Tenant.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!!

This took until nearly halfway through to really get my attention- definitely a slow burn. There was a small twist that I enjoyed, but the ending felt a little anticlimactic. Overall I would give it a 3.5

Pain. Pain is what I feel reviewing this book after loving Michallon’s previous work so much.

Whereas The Quiet Tenant was more literary thriller, Our Last Resort is more murder mystery making it—I think—much more accessible and enjoyable to those who enjoy the genre. However, it felt underdeveloped and elementary compared to Michallon’s debut. Our two main characters were uninteresting and I failed to ever connect with them (and therefore, care about them); they didn’t feel real to me, rather reading like the fictional characters that they are.
The story is written in two timelines, past and present, but I’m not sure that was needed as it felt like reading two different stories. When I read a story about a cult, I am immediately interested because there is so much fascinating and terrifying psychological horror that can be explored. In the case of Our Last Resort, the past timeline about the cult felt lackluster and, frankly, was not all that necessary to tell the rest of the story in the present timeline. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, especially in the past, and it led to a story that read flat and dry.

Is it worth reading? For plenty, it will be. Many will find this book enjoyable but let's just say that I won't be running out to buy a copy.

Thank you Knopf for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Available Jul 08 2025

ty netgalley and aaknopf for the ARC!!

3.5 stars rounded up. it was less of a whodunnit and more of a story of siblings. the murder itself was just meh, gabriel was just meh, but i do like frida and her character development through it. it’s less thriller and more mysterious lit fic. not a bad read at all!

Our Last Resort
This book is about the survival and aftermath of two people who grew up in a cult. Gabriel and Frida were born into a cult, neither knew who their real parents were among many other odd ways of living. They come to rely on each other as siblings. Eventually as they grow older they decide they want out and a plan is decided. Which they must live with the rest of their lives. This story is told ‘then’ and ‘now’. It’s about how far would you go to protect someone you love. I especially liked reading about the cult, it fascinated and disturbed me. Over all it was a decent read, a bit slow going but the ending was excellent.

Clemence Michalon’s unique debut, The Quiet Tenant, absolutely shook me to my core, so I eagerly dove into her brand-new thriller Last Resort without even glancing at the plot summary.

And it did not disappoint! This gripping page-turner masterfully intertwines two timelines: the past, exploring the lives of two self-declared siblings at a cult, and the present, where they reunite at a hotel in Escalante, Utah, only to find themselves entangled in a murder investigation.

The character development is exceptional, especially the bond between Frida and Gabriel, which is beautifully portrayed. The pacing is flawless, and the mystery keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story gradually unveils layers of intrigue, making you question what happened in the cult fifteen years ago, who killed Gabriel’s wife nine years ago, and who is responsible for the present-day murder of Sabrina, the young wife of wealthy and temperamental businessman William Brenner. These three mysteries are seamlessly connected and resolved in a logical, satisfying way.

The tension builds relentlessly, culminating in a climax that left me breathless, with twists that hit you like a freight train. The poignant ending highlights the deep connection between Frida and Gabriel, proving that family isn’t always defined by blood.

Quick plot recap: Frida and Gabriel first bonded as siblings while living in a cult led by Emile, a charismatic and manipulative French leader who controlled a tight-knit community of mothers and their children. Their shared trauma created a lifelong bond.

In the present, they reunite for a getaway in Escalante, Utah, seeking solace from their troubled pasts. However, trouble follows them when William Brenner’s wife, Sabrina, is found dead, and suspicion falls on Gabriel, whose own wife, Annie, died under mysterious circumstances nine years earlier. Though he was never charged, Gabriel’s evasiveness about his whereabouts raises red flags, even for Frida, who begins to doubt her loyalty to him. As secrets from their past resurface, Frida must grapple with the possibility that her brother’s darkness may be more dangerous than she imagined.

Overall: Last Resort is a fast-paced, heart-pounding, twist-filled thriller that firmly establishes Michalon as one of my must-read authors. Highly recommended for fans of the genre—grab a blanket, settle in, and prepare for a wild, twisty ride!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for sharing this stunning thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The Quiet Tenant was in my books of the year, I couldn’t wait to see what Clémence Michallon would write next…

The Last Resort is a murder mystery thriller set in a luxury desert resort. Guests Frida and Gabriel were once as close as brother and sister but have grown apart in recent years.

After building up detailed, complex characters we are treated to layers of tense, tightly plotted twists. I’ll make some big comparisons, imagine character writing and involved pasts on a Gillian Flynn level with Peter Swanson’s intricate intelligent plotting.

I loved this book! More mainstream and accessible than the brilliant The Quiet Tenant, Our Last Resort should appeal to all fans of high quality thrillers.

Our Last Resort proves what we were all hoping, Clémence Michallon is a real, consistent, versatile, top quality thriller writer.

Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor

Frida and Gabriel, siblings by bond rather than blood, share a history rooted in a secluded compound often many would call a cult. After escaping that insular world to forge their own paths, they reunite for a vacation that takes a dark turn. When a fellow guest, Sabrina, is found dead, her husband William is quickly named the prime suspect. As the investigation progresses, buried secrets from their past resurface, including the mysterious death of Gabriel’s first wife near a waterfall.
Could Gabriel truly be innocent of these deaths?

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: July 08, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I absolutely fell for Michallon’s writing when I read The Quiet Tenant and so when I saw that they had a new book releasing I got so excited. This was such a fast paced twisty thriller that has you sitting on the edge of your seat once again. I loved how well written our characters are even side characters as well as the weaving timelines going from past to present day. This read is jam packed with dark secrets, trust issues and lies along with mystery. This book will leave you guessing at each page turn and leave your jaw on the floor at the ending. Once again, I will be watching for more books to come out always from our author and this may be the perfect book club book for next summer.

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Dark Secrets, Complex Characters, Mystery, Thriller, Dual Timelines, Fast Paced, Cults, Isolated Backdrop Settings

While this was a fun read, for me it fell short for me. The tenant was nail biting good. This to me for a semi thriller. But I’m glad I read it!