Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon is a suspenseful and deeply immersive thriller that expertly blends psychological tension with an atmospheric setting. From the very first page, Michallon crafts a compelling narrative that pulls the reader into a seemingly idyllic retreat that quickly unravels into something far more sinister.

The novel’s strength lies in its character development—each person feels real, flawed, and complex, making their interactions and choices all the more gripping. The pacing is masterfully controlled, balancing quiet moments of unease with pulse-pounding revelations that keep you turning the pages late into the night.

Michallon’s writing is vivid and evocative, painting the resort as both a sanctuary and a trap, heightening the suspense as secrets begin to surface. The story’s twists are well-executed, keeping even the most seasoned thriller readers on edge.

Overall, Our Last Resort is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. It’s a book that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished, making you question what you think you know about trust, survival, and the hidden darkness within us all.

Clemence Michallon has done it again, maybe even better than before. Our Last Resort was a page turner that I could not put down and could not stop thinking about when I wasn't reading it. Cults, coyotes, the desert, a posh hotel with beautiful people - who could ask for more. I always appreciate a psychological thriller with a new story line that I've not read before and this one was exciting and, of course, surprising!

It is one of those books that you wish you read again for the fist time!

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Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon
Our Last Resort
by Clémence Michallon (Goodreads Author)
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Growing up in a cult, Frida and Gabriel were once so close they finished each other's sentences. Each one all the other had to call family. As they've grown older, they've grown apart. They are trying to reestablish that sibling connection, at a secluded spa and resort in the desert of Escalante, Utah. The spot is ideal - until the dead body of a resort guest is found. The local police put the resort on lock down, and the siblings, who would rather leave and try to forget, start to revisit memories of their childhood in the confining cult in upstate New York. Frida starts to see the darkness she avoided looking at in her brother - who exactly is he and what is he hiding?

This book alternates between past and present, and you learn piece by piece what contributes to their personalities, their bond, and the gap that has grown between them.

The characters aren't exactly likable, and the book starts slowly, but then it starts rolling and I couldn't put it down until I knew what happened. I did guess the "plot twist" early, but it was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 ⭐️Good, quick read. It was interesting enough, but predictable. I do wish there were more about the cult life, to me that was the most interesting part. The present day murder mystery was where it got predictable, it’s always the husband. I also found it obvious who annie’s killer would be. I hate that the brother/sister felt so guilty after burning that place down, that would’ve been manslaughter in the worst case scenario. Like I said, overall it was a decent read.

This was a compelling story of two ‘siblings’ who escaped from the cult they were raised in, reunited at a resort out west where a new crime occurs. It seems that they cannot avoid tragic and mysterious circumstances. Told in dual timelines it is impossible not to sympathize with the hand they have been dealt in life.

This book kept me turning pages wanting to know more and what was happening.
It started off a little slow but once I got into it I couldn’t stop reading and wanting to know what was going to happen next

This was told in two time lines. Present day and the past, we got an understanding of what it was like to grow up in a cult.

Some of the twist I did see coming but overall I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for this ARC Copy of this book!

✨I absolutely loved this author’s debut novel THE QUIET TENANT and was so excited to see others love it as well. As soon as I saw she had written her next book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. You never know if the magic will continue with the second offering, but in this case, it most definitely did. While OUR LAST RESORT is quite a departure from her debut, it’s equally suspenseful and an extraordinary read

✨The development of the two main characters, both flawed and complicated, was honestly written with depth and skill. .

✨There are three mysteries to solve in these pages – and they are seamlessly connected and perfectly paced with a slow peeling back of layers to reveal hidden truths.

✨The author’s misdirection kept me guessing to the end with reveals and twists I wasn’t expecting leading to a satisfying ending. The tension level was expert. Highly recommend this one.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Cult stories
✨Sibling dynamics
✨Utah/desert settings
✨Dual timelines
✨Shared trauma narratives
✨Atmospheric writing

My thanks to @aaknopf and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

This was a mystery that had a cult background for two former members, who as children suffered trauma. As the two are now adults, and consider themselves brother and sister, their past haunts them. When they reconnect at a desert resort, a third murder in their lives occurs.
I enjoyed this author's writing. Although this was a slow brewing mystery between the characters' pasts and present, it was a fast read. I wouldn't classify this as a thriller because it didn't have that kind of vibe with dark twists, and a shocking ending. For me, this is not a bad thing. While I would have loved a little more comeuppance for one of the characters, and a tiny bit more fleshed out ending, I would definitely read this author again.

~Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher

Thank you to net galley for this arc. This book was such a thriller and by the same author as The Quiet Tenant, which I loved. Frida and Gabriel were once so close and after recent years and recent tragedies they have grown apart. They live in Utah and find a new start at a hotel in the desert, until the death of a young pretty woman is found there.

Thank you so much for the advanced chance to read this anticipated read from the author of The Quiet Tennant.
For me, this book was not as good as the authors previous work. This was more of a murder mystery than a thriller.
I was intrigued with the cult aspect, and saw the value of the flashbacks, but I wasn’t as invested in the main story.

Cult Vibes- Check
Page Turner- Check
Twists that blow your mind- Check

This was my first book by Michallon and I am immediately adding "The Quiet Tenant " to my TBR. I felt like I was in a bit of a reading slump and this helped to dig me out! A solid four star read for me. The more the story unraveled the more I had to read. Told in back and forth past and present timelines this story follows Frida and Gabriel as grown ups at a resort who have witnessed a murder and end up becoming suspects. Rewind to the past and we follow along as Gabriel and Frida grow up in a cult. These two perspectives intertwine seamlessly and will leave you turning pages.


Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Our Last Resort is a gripping and emotional novel about love, survival, and second chances. The writing beautifully captures the vulnerability of its characters while offering a thrilling plot. It’s an unforgettable journey full of tension and heartfelt moments.

2.75 stars. After being estranged for several years, siblings Frida and Gabriel, book a vacation at the luxurious Ara Hotel in the Utah desert. However, their reunion takes a dark turn when the body of a young, wealthy hotel guest is found and the police suspect foul play. As Frida and Gabriel become entangled in the investigation, their painful pasts resurface. Will they be able to keep their secrets hidden or will the truth finally come to light?

After reading and enjoying the Quiet Tenant, I was so excited to read this one! If you’re a fan of this author’s previous work, don’t go into this expecting something similar- this one is completely different. Told in past and present timelines, the story follows two siblings as they grow up in a cult in upstate New York, their eventual escape, and their involvement in a present-day murder investigation.

The story flows nicely and I really enjoy this author’s writing style. However, the plot was way too predictable and nothing really surprised me. While I appreciated the chapters set in the past, exploring their childhood in a cult, I struggled to see the connection to the present-day chapters and didn’t really care for those chapters. At times, it felt disjointed and it was hard to connect with the characters.

If you’re looking for a murder mystery filled with cult vibes, short chapters, and dysfunctional family relationships, you may enjoy this one more than me!

Our Last Resort is a slow-burning suspense novel that takes its time unraveling the story. While the writing is engaging and atmospheric, the pacing may feel sluggish. The ending leans toward the predictable—so if you’re looking for a jaw-dropping twist, this might not be the book for you.

I would give this a 2-2.5 because:

First, the ending was obvious and I didn´t think the story had that suspenful element I was craving.
Then, it was slow paced which for me didn´t work because I don´t think it led to anything amazing.

It had potential but it didn´t work for me.

Thank you so much for thje ARC!!

Our Last Resort is an interesting dual timeline thriller, set at a resort in the southwest. I enjoyed the exploration of the two main character’s early lives in a cult, and how the mystery of a dead resort guest unfolded. The pacing was a little off though, with everything unfolding in a quick but unsatisfying manner. I’m glad the epilogue was included as a wrap up, but the dangling of a potentially expository documentary at the end didn’t add much and confused me even more. I’m not sure if I would recommend this as a stellar thriller, but it read quickly and was more engaging than I expected.

Overall, a good vacation thriller. Quick! I do want to try the author’s debut novel because I enjoyed her style.

Engaging Premise but Falls Short – 3 Stars

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this thriller!

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon starts with a compelling setup and an atmospheric setting that draws you in. The tension between the characters and the slow unraveling of secrets keep the story moving, making it an easy page-turner. Michallon’s writing is smooth, and she knows how to build suspense.

However, the novel doesn’t quite deliver on its full potential. Some plot points feel underdeveloped, and the pacing is uneven—certain sections drag while others rush through key moments. The characters, while interesting, lack the depth needed to make their motivations fully believable. The ending, while satisfying to some extent, feels a bit predictable.

Overall, Our Last Resort is a decent thriller with an intriguing premise, but it doesn’t break new ground. Worth a read if you enjoy slow-burn mysteries, but don’t expect a mind-blowing twist.

Although there have been way too many thrillers about people discovering family secrets and solving mysteries when they are off on a resort vacation, I did find this engaging and it had a nice unexpected ending. So I'm thankful to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it. My feeling is that it would be a good beach read, and that's not a bad thing, is it?

From the author of The Quiet Tenant comes a sophomore thriller set in Utah. We are at an exclusive and isolated desert resort, newly opened, called Ara. This resort is accessible only by a dusty dirt road. Frida and Gabriel are brother and sister. They were raised in a cult somewhere in New Jersey but escaped. They live on opposite coasts in the present day, Frida in NYC and Gabriel in Seattle. They have convened at this resort for pool time, spa time and just time to relax away from their daily lives. Things have been distant and tense between them for years and Frida hopes this vacation will help them reconnect.

On the evening of the 4th night, Frida can’t sleep so she takes a walk. She overhears a heated argument between an older husband and his much younger wife. She is determined to help the wife the next day in what she believes may be a toxic situation. The next morning, the wife is discovered, deceased and very obviously murdered on a walkway there on the resort grounds. This time, it’s always the husband doesn’t apply, because the husband is arrested, then released just a few hours later. And Frida is determined to figure out what has happened.

This book is told from the POV of Frida and goes back and forth between her childhood in the cult, points in her adulthood after escaping the cult and the present. This book was well written and definitely brings awareness about cults. However, for such a short book, it was a slow and long burn.

I don’t want to compare it to The Quiet Tenant, it is entirely different. But where The Quiet Tenant maintained that extreme tension, this book is not as fast paced, nor as terrifyingly tense. I would, however, recommend it! This author does not follow a formula and that is refreshing.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Psychological Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 8, 2025
📖 320 pages

First, I'd like to say a huge thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and NetGalley, for the digital review copy 🫶

✨️ OCD + Anxiety Rep
✨️ Cloistered Cult
✨️ Alternating Timelines
✨️ Twisty Thriller

Gabriel & Frida, who bonded through their upbringing and subsequent escape from a cult, reunite at a very nice hotel where a woman is found murdered during their stay. Due to their past, and some unfortunate events, they become subjects of interest and must prove their innocence.

I devoured Our Last Resort. I enjoyed Frida, as a character, and liked the way the author added Gabriel's POV as well. I always enjoy a psychological thriller with a cult aspect, so that was just ✨️icing.✨️ If you're looking for a quick thriller and enjoy reading about ex-cult members, I absolutely recommend!

⚠️: domestic abuse, cult, SA, murder