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!