Fran's sister goes off on a retreat to Gozo to "find herself". Tragedy strikes and three people are dead.
3 years later Fran attends the retreat under the guise of Geraldine, this time in Wales. She is determined to find out exactly what happened.

I found this audiobook a little difficult to get into initially but once I had settled into it I really enjoyed it. Fran's idiosyncrasies were the little extra that the novel needed and as time passed I found her incredibly amusing.

Overall I enjoyed this audio book despite it's difficult start. Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to it.

#HerLastHoliday by #CLTaylor was an easy read that had a few surprising twists and turns. It did keep me turning those pages, but when I paused it I wasn’t excited to get back into it. I usually LOVE this author’s offerings. Maybe it was the retreat side of things…. having attended a few I find it hard to believe that people return after deaths. missing people and prison sentences. The story is a slower paced mystery that is told from three different perspectives and two timeframes. I was able to relate to the characters but I didn’t particularly like anyone in particular. The twists that the author is known for was not as surprising as I was expecting, so I felt a little underwhelmed, however I did finish the book and would rate it a solid 3 stars. Thank you to #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK, and #CLTaylor for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant story!

It kept me interested during every (extended) dog walk.

The ending was a great surprise and I can’t wait to listen to it again!

Another great read by C.L. Taylor!

I really loved the fact that half the book is set in Gozo, I have been there myself and absolutely loved my time in Malta (unlike Jenna did).

This book is set in Gozo, 2 years previously and you follow Jenna on the self help retreat that is run by Kate and Tom.
The other half of the book is set now, following Fran in Wales on Kate and Tom's retreat to try and find out what happened to her sister.

A great read, very easy to follow between the different time lines and I didn't guess the twists at the end!!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Audio and CL Taylor for my advanced listening copy of Her Last Holiday in exchange for an honest review.

Out now!

Two years ago while on a wellness retreat in Gozo Jenna goes missing. Two people die.

Now, the infamous retreat leader Tom Wade has been released from prison and Jenna’s family are horrified to see that he is planning a new retreat. Having never found out what happened to Jenna, sister Fran is dispatched by her mother to come face to face with Tom and find out once and for all what happened to Jenna. But things on the retreat don’t go to plan, with people determined to keep the secrets of the Gozo retreat secret, will Fran escape the retreat alive?

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The suspense and build up with great and the narrator told the story well. There are many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and I would definitely like to read lots more books by this author!

This was such a fab audiobook from C.L. Taylor. There were so many great characters in this book, some I really liked, others I wasn’t too sure about, and some I down right detested! I did guess one of the twists quite early on, but it didn’t spoil the story at all as they were a few more that took me by surprise. Clare Corbett’s narration was amazing as usual, her voice talents were absolutely fantastic. I loved how she could voice so many different characters, old and young, male and female, just brilliant! I highly recommend this audiobook to thriller lovers and audiobook lovers, you’ll really enjoy listening to this one.

Fran's sister Jenna went missing at a wellness retreat in Gozo several years ago, where two other people died. The leader of the wellness retreat has just been released from prison, and under pressure from her mother, Fran signs up for his latest course in Wales, taking on a fake identity so that she can uncover what happened to her sister - but someone is eager to stop her.

I enjoyed this book very much, mostly because Fran is a great character and she carries the story. I loved her from the opening chapter, which summed up her personality beautifully. The audiobook narrator voiced her particularly well. I thought that it had a good pace and there were enough surprises in the plot to keep me guessing until the end.

This was such a fun, fast paced thriller that kept me coming back for more!

Two years ago, Fran's sister Jenna disappeared on a retreat to Gozo that ended with the deaths of two people. To uncover what really happened, Fran books onto the next retreat, the first since Tom's (the infamous man behind Soul Shrinks Retreats) release from prison.

This was such an intriguing story, and very different from anything I have read before. We get to follow three different points of view - one in the past, and two in the present, which worked really well to throw in lots of twists and turns and reveals. I also enjoyed having an older protagonist (50s) than usual. The end did go on for a bit longer than it probably needed to, but I quite seeing everything wrapped up and a bit of what's happening afterwards. I will definitely be reading more from C. L. Taylor.

Thank you t the publisher and netgalley for an audioarc of this book!

** spoiler alert ** 2.5

This was a bit generic if I’m being fully honest. I didn’t care about Kate, Tom, Fran or Jenna never mind the 20 other characters that added absolutely nothing to the story. I read another thriller not long ago (the name evades me right now) and it had the exact same premise and twist 🙈 I think it may have been The Castaways by Lucy Clarke?! The only difference in that one was it was a plane crash instead of a retreat but it had the exact same elements, regretful sister and then in the end the other sister was alive and she had a baby. Unoriginal and not worth my time I am afraid!

have read a couple of the author's previous books but this wasn't as good. I kept reading in the hope I would be suddenly caught up in a brilliant plot. It didn't happen. I can't say it is a bad story, it just didn't grab me. I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

C.I Taylor is one of them authors that seem to only write books that take over your every thought when you are not reading thrm, and this is certainly one of them!

This book features the main character of Fran who is determined to find out what happened to get sister who mysteriously disappeared two years ago after going to a wellness retreat. The determination of Fran is infectious and makes you want to keep reading (or in my case keep listening) , you end up willing her on to find out the secret behind her sister's disappearance. She is described in great detail that it builds the picture of her in your mind and adds another thing to keep you hooked on the book.

I found myself thinking about the book when away from it , trying to figure out what had happened and slipping Fran will make it out alive! An exceptional read /listen from an incredibly talented author!

I received a copy of this book for free in the form of an audio book via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

Jenna has been missing for 3 years, her family are convinced she is dead. Fran, her sister, goes in search for answers by attending the same retreat that her sister went missing from.

Great read which falls into the murder mystery category. Every time you think you've solved it, comes along another character with a better reason for perhaps killing Jenna.

Narrators is great at distinguishing the many characters.

If possible I would give this book 3,5 stars, so I have rounded it up to 4 stars.

I listed to this book and was entertained from start to end and trying to figure it out, but I definitely did not succeed!

Fran's sister Jenna went on a retreat two years ago and never came back. It was ruled a suicide. On that same retreat two other guests died and the man behind the retreats, Tom Wade, was sent to jail.

Now Tom is out of prison and organizing retreats again so Fran goes, using a different name and sets to find out what really happened to her sister.

The story is told on two timelines, then (Jenna's retreat) and now (Fran's retreat), but as both the sisters are not at the retreat at the same time it doesn't get confusing, not even in audiobook format.

The narration was also really good and I would not mind listening to more books read by this narrator.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.

The narrator really made this book for me, the I got jnf I would’ve changed would be to have more than one narrator for each person, as that’s what I enjoy when it comes to POVs. The narrator did well and pausing when it was an important section to give time to process what had happened and I enjoyed listening to this one.
While CL Taylor is one of my favourite authors, i didn’t enjoy this one as much as I would’ve liked and it’s the first 3 star book I’ve given to this author.
There were quite a few loose ends when the book finished and I’d loved to of found out what happened to certain characters after the events, but that leaves room for a sequel I suppose.

This is my first C.L. Taylor book, and since I have read many review stating this is not her best book, I will definitely read more, as I did enjoy this one. Jenna attended a retreat on Gonzo (Malta) when she disappears, presumed dead. Tom, the charismatic leader of the retreat has just been released from prison for manslaughter when two other attendees die, but he claims he does not know what happened to Jenna. He is struggling, but his wife Kate, the driving force behind Soul Shrink, is determined that all will go well. This story has two timelines: the first is Jenna when she arrives at the retreat in Gonzo three years earlier, and present day with her sister Fran (using the alias Geraldine when her mother can't follow through with her reservation) at a similar Soul Shrink retreat in Wales. We also have a third POV, that of Kate, Tom's assistant, who is actually his wife.

Fran is a sympathetic character. She was bullied as a child and has disappointed her parents, never marrying so of course, not providing grandchildren. Her mother is rather mean to her but she continues to try and be a good daughter. Jenna was flighty. The youngest by twelve years and the princess. Her parents have not gotten over her death and her mother wants revenge. Tom is the leader of the Soul Shrink retreat. He is handsome and charismatic, but seems to be controlled by Kate, to the point where there is some question of spousal abuse. Kate is controlling, manipulative, greedy and wants power at almost any cost. She is abusive towards Tom. The secondary characters all have a role to play in the story and we get to know them well enough for this to happen. I will say that most of these characters are unlikeable, but I was still able to connect with many of them. There were several secrets, some tense and dangerous moments, and several twists that had me trying to figure out what really happened to Jenna. I was also scared for Fran a few times. This is a psychological thriller, as well as a fun ride. I definitely had to suspend belief with this one, but I did enjoy it. My one niggle is that after the climax, the book began to drag somewhat. Her Last Holiday has a lot to enjoy: scenic locations, adventure, twists, danger and a bit of romance. Family relationships also come into play. I do recommend this book to those who enjoy thrillers and suspense.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Clare Corbett. She did a wonderful job with this story, adding accents, tone and expression to differentiate the characters as well as to add dramatic interest. I enjoyed her rendition of this book.

I haven’t read any CL Taylor books but wow I enjoyed this. Having listened to lots of audiobooks with various narrators I wasn’t sure at first about the same narrator. But as I listened more and more I really enjoyed the narration, soon I could tell who the narrator was being from bitter Kate, to naive Jenna and prim proper Fran. The characters were very well developed and the plot was excellent. There was great suspense and brilliant twins.

I would definitely read more of CL Taylor’s work and could not recommend more. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen!

This isn't my first C L Taylor book and I doubt it will be my last.

I have never attended a wellness retreat but I have read many a self help book, looking for those lightbulb moments that will change my mindset, my perspective, my life. I certainly wouldn't expect to die seeking answers to improve my life.

This is a tale of family secrets and smoke and mirrors. Told from the perspective of Jenna, Kate and Fran, we follow along on Fran's attempts to uncover the truth about her sister's death at a previous wellness retreat, Jenna's story on what led her to the retreat and what happened to her and Kate as she tries to rebuild her husband's empire and make his first retreat since coming out of prison a success.

The characters are not always likeable but they are interesting and I wanted to know more about them. We get to learn some of what drove them to be who they are by the time they come to the wellness retreat and that appealed to me as I like to know what makes people tick and what can make people change - if they can change.

Although the story jumps between the present and the past, it wasn't difficult to keep track of where in the timeline the story was or which point of view we were seeing. I think this works well to create the layers of the story.

The premise of the story - that a parent sends her surviving daughter to find out the truth about what happened to her daughter on a wellness retreat - could be seen as a little unbelievable, but as we learn more about the family history, I could understand why mum wants to send Fran, and why Fran goes along with the idea.

The ending is always a big part of a story for me and I wasn't disappointed by the ending. Part of the ending might be seen as a little unbelievable but overall, I felt the ending was just right. I liked that it showed that some people change and some people don't.

Overall another good read from C.L.Taylor. Thanks to NetGalley for the audible ARC.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Her Last Holiday’ by C.L. Taylor. It was narrated by Clare Corbett and has a running time of 10 hours, 57 minutes at 1x speed.

This is C.L. Taylor’s latest psychological thriller.
Its main protagonist is Fran, a fifty-one year old woman, whose younger sister Jenna disappeared nearly three years ago during a wellness retreat in the Mediterranean that went terribly wrong.

The front man of Soul Shrink Retreats was Tom Wade, who has just been released from prison after serving a two year sentence for negligence in the deaths of two people on the retreat. Yet what about Jenna? Fran is determined to find out the truth, so books herself under a false name onto a SoulShrink retreat in Wales - the first since Tom’s release. No further details to order to avoid spoilers.

Like many novel’s in this popular sub genre, the narrative voice moves between a number of characters and is also split between events in the present and on the original retreat.

This was certainly a fast moving thriller. However, it did feel towards the end that the plot lost its credibility with what I would describe as ‘twists for twists sake’ rather than the more organic type.

I also found it difficult to warm to the characters, some of them seemed more suited to a soap opera, while others felt underdeveloped. I still enjoyed reading it though it’s one that I rate as an okay read as it didn’t feel particularly original and became so over the top by the conclusion.

In terms of the audiobook, Clare Corbett is an established actor who has also narrated an impressive range of audiobooks. I have certainly enjoyed her work in the past and I felt that she did well in her reading of this novel.

Her Last Holiday - C.L Taylor

I was immediately drawn to the story and wanted to know the story behind Jenna's disappearance. There were plenty of characters to get your teeth stuck into and this 100% helped to build the tension and suspicion surrounding them all. I did struggle to warm to anyone, and this has affected my final opinions as I just wasn't that desperate to finish the book. I thought it was a good plot but I did find it a little slow paced at times. Thank you so much Avon Books, Harper Collins and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read and review this book.

I have previously enjoyed several of C.L. Taylor's books, so I was really looking forward to this.
It seemed a little reminiscent of The Castaways by Lucy Clarke initially, whereby a woman's sister goes missing and the woman investigates the disappearance to get closure on what happened.
I was immediately drawn into the story and enjoyed making the theories around what happened to Jenna.
There was a multitude of characters to build suspicion around, and the dual timeline certainly added to the intrigue.
However, I feel that the story somewhat fell apart at the end. I had to suspend belief way too many times, and I rolled my eyes constantly. If a story is verging on the unbelievable, it loses it's integrity for me.
This book was somewhat of a disappointment I'm afraid.