Looking at past reviews, I’m most probably in the minority but I actually enjoyed this book by Daniel Hurst. It was a nice easy read and had me intrigued from start to ending.

This story follows Nicola, her husband Ryan and daughter who get invited to her best friend’s holiday home in the Scottish Highlands. They’re meant to have a fun relaxing time but there are a lot of secrets that just keep unveiling through the weekend. Is this a genuine holiday or a pity invite.

There was some parts which was a predictable but it didn’t ruin my reading. Would still recommend!

Set against the backdrop of a picturesque holiday home in Scotland, “The Holiday Home” revolves around a group of friends and family who come together for what is expected to be a relaxing getaway. However, as the story unfolds through the perspectives of different characters, it becomes clear that this vacation is anything but peaceful.

The primary narrator, Nicola, is joined by her husband Ryan, whose point of view we also get to see. The couple is invited by their wealthy friends to experience a luxurious weekend at a lakeside property. Nicola hopes to use this time to mend her strained marriage and find some solace from their recent troubles. But the tranquility is short-lived as she overhears a conversation that sends chills down her spine, revealing the first of many secrets that will unravel over the course of their stay.

The plot thickens with the introduction of Lewis, the husband of Nicola’s best friend, and Cole, their son, whose perspectives add layers to the unfolding drama. As the weekend progresses, the idyllic setting becomes a backdrop for betrayal, with each character’s flaws and selfishness coming to light. The tension builds with each chapter, each ending with a foreshadowing statement or cliffhanger.

“The Holiday Home” is an enjoyable psychological thriller.

A good read, full of tension and secrets. We suspect from the off that something bad has happened so the tension is ramped up from the start. Good characters and as I've come to expect from the author, it's a gripping read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it! Daniel Hurst writes pretty intriguing books!

#TheHolidayHome #NetGalley
Nicola and Kim have been best friends for a long time. They enjoy getting together with their spouses and children. Things have been tense between Nicola and Ryan and she hopes this time will be just what they need to get back on track.
But when she overhears a conversation, the trip becomes a nightmare! But that is not all, things are about to get worse. Who can she trust?
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.

A great book
A well paced story
Plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages
Thanks NetGalley

Wow, blown away by this one. Absolutely brilliant. No idea who you should trust. Twists and turns galore.
Highly recommend

Daniel Huest has become my new favorite! He has quick reads and amazing twists. What could possibly go wrong when these families go on vacation together?

Absolutely thrilling book. It left me breathless and with no idea who to trust. You will be gobsmacked by the twists and someone won't make it.

I was lucky to receive and advance copy of The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I loved all the twists and turns that this book had. It really grabbed me from the first page and kept me reading way late into the night. I recommend that you read this the first chance you get as you will love it.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst has all the makings of a gripping thriller, but unfortunately, it falls short of its potential. While it has some redeeming qualities, there are significant flaws that ultimately left me disappointed.

One of the immediate issues with the book is its pacing. It starts with a tantalising spoiler, pulls you into a crucial moment in the story, and then abruptly throws you back in time. This approach robs the narrative of tension that could have been built gradually and chronologically. It's a missed opportunity to engage the reader fully.

The writing itself feels underdeveloped at times. Some of the character's comments at the end of the chapters seem out of place and disjointed from the story's flow. This is a shame as it disrupts the reader's immersion in the plot.

However, one of the book's highlights is the setting – a remote cabin in the Scottish highlands. The author does an excellent job of creating a vivid sense of place, and this is definitely one of the book's strongest aspects. The isolation and harsh beauty of the landscape add to the story's atmosphere.

As for the plot, it is mysterious and tense, keeping you engaged. It strikes a good balance between being plot-driven and character-driven. However, it falls short in terms of character development. The characters are largely unlikeable, making it challenging to relate to or sympathise with them. The exception here is teenager Cole, who comes across as one of the more relatable characters. However, the parts from his viewpoint feel forced and clumsy, sadly not quite capturing the authenticity of a teenager's perspective.

The story's premise is undeniably interesting, but the execution is lacklustre. The twist at the end, while meant to be shocking, feels melodramatic and over the top, stretching the boundaries of belief. This was a missed opportunity to deliver a more nuanced and satisfying conclusion.

The Holiday Home has the potential to be a gripping thriller set in an intriguing location, but it falls short in several crucial areas. The pacing, character development, and melodramatic twist let down an otherwise promising premise. If you're looking for a book with a strong sense of place and atmosphere, it may still be worth a read, but be prepared for some disappointments along the way.

Twisty, unpredictable and gripping. I couldn't put it down and I couldn't call it. A great read that i would definitely recommend

The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst was a good book. I would recommend this book to new readers to this genre as its easy to follow along the story and could be interesting. However, a more seasoned reader would find this book predictable. Given that, I enjoyed the book for its characters mostly rather the plot. Nicola was not your helpless damsel in distress which was refreshingly welcome. Unfortunately nothing in the general plot surprised me, at all so I took way longer than I usually do for a book.

Thank you NetGalley, Daniel Hurst & Bookouture for an arc!

Tense thriller which kept me guessing and enthralled from beginning to end.

Who knew a weekend away in a holiday home, in the wilds of Scotland, removed from civilisation would result in less people returning home than arrived.

But just why would something go so badly wrong on a trip with best friends and their partners.

Well discovering a very old secret, sets in motion a chain of events with devastating outcomes.

I couldn't read this book fast enough, as I raced through the pages. This is certainly an author who knows how to grab and hold onto a reader's attention.

This was the first book I've read from the author and it certainly won't be the last if they are all up to this incredibly high standard.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Oh my goodness what a book! I was totally hooked by the story straight from the beginning.
The title seems to suggest that the book will be set abroad, so it was a refreshing change that the book was set in Scotland.
A nail-biting book that shows people will go to any length to keep their secrets, even death!
Totally loved it & the little twist at the end was a complete surprise.

The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst delivered a well paced, suspenseful read. A story which will have readers anxiously turning the pages as they wait with bated breath for the outcome.

This is my second time reading the author’s work, and it was indeed a treat. Two couples, Kim and Lewis and Nicola and Ryan, as well as their children, took a vacation together at a holiday house in Scotland in a secluded area. The house is owned by Kim and Lewis. Kim and Nicola are best friends since high school while their husbands, for the sake of their wives, barely tolerate each other.

Secrets, lies and betrayal permeate the pages. This created drama, tension, and suspense throughout the story. Figuring out the secrets was pretty easy, but waiting for the other shoe to drop kept me glued to the pages. Not only would the secrets threaten Kim and Nicola’s friendship, it would cause an upheaval in all the characters’ lives. So much so that of the six people who went on vacation, only five would return home alive.

The characters except for their children were not likeable. It would seem at first that Nicola, the main narrator, was the best of them. However, that view changed at the culmination of the story. Hypocrisy at its best. The only difference between her and the others is that her secret and lie remain hidden.

The story was narrated from multiple POVs, giving readers a glimpse into the state of mind of the characters. This added to the story’s intensity, thus piquing my curiosity regarding how the events would eventually play out.

Readers who enjoy thrillers, especially those of the domestic variety, would get a kick out of The Holiday Home.

This book in 3 words: Exciting. High stakes. Mind-blowing.

My first read by Daniel Hurst and I read it in a single sitting -- that's how you know it's good! I thought the setting was strong and this would be a good book for visual recreation. I can see the Netflix limited-time series now!

There were a few things I had an inkling about, which ended up being right, but this book is surprising. I also found the unconventional timeline execution to work perfectly. Most books end with a twist we get early on and that worked really well.

While I found most of the characters unlikeable, this book demands to be read. I definitely recommend to anyone needing to scratch that Thriller spot!

I’m a huge fan of this author and have read several of his books but I thought this was one of his weaker offerings. This was more of a domestic suspense than a thriller. Maybe I’m just not used to those from him.

Lewis and Kim have everything going for them. They own a luxury cabin in a remote part of Scotland. The cabin is totally isolated, a couple of miles from a proper road and with no phone signal. They invite Kim’s friend Nicola, her husband Ryan and daughter Emily to join them and their son for a long weekend. Ryan and Lewis do not hit it off at all and soon start having words as Ryan is quite envious of Lewis’ wealth. Tension reigns as we realise that two of them are hiding a secret that one of them already knows and the others are soon to discover. One person will not leave the holiday ialive but who will it be? This is a cleverly written thriller, full of tension and suspense. An enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.