If you’re looking for a book that will keep you guessing who did it for the entire book, this one is for you! She had many friends that were also enemies, but the one who did it is not who I was expecting. I listened to the audiobook version and I enjoyed the narrator.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in advance of publication.

3.75 stars

Suspenseful, twisty, and dramatic, this story was a fun thriller that kept me interested throughout. I didn’t have real suspicions about the ultimate reveal until closer to the end, which was nice. Overall, I enjoyed this book.

What can go wrong when a group of old friends decide to go on a family camping trip to celebrate an 18-year-olds birthday? Apparently a LOT!
The twist in this book kept twisting, all the way to the very end. I did NOT see that coming.
I listened to the audiobook and since it was told from multiple POV, it made it a little difficult to keep up with who was who. Flashes to past timelines kept it interesting and gave you just enough backstory on each character.

I enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: 30 May 2023

This was my first read with this author and I will be looking for more by her. If you enjoy multiple POV'S with alternating timelines, you will enjoy this book. There are plenty of reviews that capture the synopsis so I'll skip that.

The basis is old time "friends" get together for a vacation and from the beginning you know there's some stuff to sort through as none appear to be excited to be reuniting on a holiday. The story builds throughout and has just enough character depth that you get to know each person without extra information that isn't relevant. The alternating characters is confusing at first but once each is introduced, you can quickly follow along. There's a little revenge, suspense, infidelity, and leading that it keeps you guessing and engaged throughout. My only recommendation is to label the chapters with character names on audio since it's difficult to go back like you could in a physical copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this audio and devoured it in 2 days.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to #TheLastHoliday

Told from the point of view of Charlotte, Annie and Stella moving back and forth from past to present with different backstories thrown in. There are a good few characters to get to grips with but it’s not long till you have the lay of the land. I did like the majority of the characters but just couldn’t take to Annie or Charlotte. The pace at which the story progressed was perfect and worked well to build the suspense for how the story unfolds and comes together. The narration was engaging and held my attention. Well developed storyline and characters. I really like when I’m kept in the dark till the final moments and you don’t see it coming.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to #TheLastHoliday

I had a little bit of a hard time following this at first but once I got the hang of it the flow was better. There’s just so many perspectives and it flips between past and present a lot. Plus, there are a couple different issues that come to light. The biggest twist right at the end, truly didn’t see it coming.

🌀Synopsis
They are a group of friends and they’ve been friends for a long time. They’re taking a camping trip- even though there are plenty of issues amongst them to cause controversy.
People cheating, people filing bankruptcy, people threatening others…lots going on. One morning, one of their own turns up dead. No one is sure who did it.
Investigators turn up a lot of these same secrets- and more, including an attempted suicide. Thinking that the two are related they accuse her of murder- after all she tried to kill herself to be with her husband why wouldn’t she kill someone else? Turns out, even more secrets come out and now a child goes missing.
The child’s true mother was 14 when she had him. Her mom? The dead woman. Her cause of death? Revenge.

One of my favourite authors! Do I rejoice when a new book hits the shelves! Yes!
This immersive thriller will have you glued to your kindle.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The Last Holiday
Amy Sheppard

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the first book I've read by this author and oh my gosh!! I need more already because I literally devoured this in 2 days!

A group of friends make plans to get away and enjoy a camping trip together after not seeing much of each other since growing older and life getting in the way.
As things progress, the group starts to niggle with each other and as secrets start slipping out, events take a nastier turn.

It took me a little bit to get with all the characters at first with this one as there were quite a few names and as the timeline flipped between shortly before, the day of and the past and their lives interconnected so much, I did have to concentrate a little to start with.
However, I'm talking just the first few chapters and then I was completely immersed in each of them and their different relationships.

With the number of characters came the multiple story lines that we were following. Each couple had their own story and we hear about their personal relationships and the group relationship over the different timelines and from different pov's which was brilliant as we got an insight into each person's mind during the same event.

I loved the way this was presented to us. Fed little bits of knowledge throughout that left us wondering about what went on in the past, what's been going on since and what might be about to happen.
There are twists and turns all through and I absolutely wasn't ready for the ending - I might have had a little emotional episode - definitely invested in each of these lives!

I've given very little plot away, but that's what the blurb is for.....and it's so much better to discover the excitement for yourself.

This is such a good read I can't wait to see what comes next....

To just say I liked it wouldn't be fair. I was completely addicted. First I'm a fan of holidays with friends and we usually go camping. By itself, the story gripped me. I came to think this story wouldn't surprise me, until I found the first lie those three best friends told each other, and since then I've bitten my nails with curiosity to find out what would come next. Very good plot. Story written with a lot of suspense. I highly recommend it to thrillers lovers who appreciate a good twist.
#thelastholiday #netgalley #amysheppard

No one wanted to be there, but a group of college friends and their children are camping on Cornwall to celebrate Rose’s 18th birthday. Rose is there with her mum Annie, Jack and new wife Kelly and his son Oliver. There is Stella and fiancé Nate and Charlotte with husband Tristan and young son Theo.
The groups have been friends for a lifetime but there are some dark secrets holding them together and seems this weekend they will all come bubbling to the surface. One of them will never leave the camp alive.
A really intriguing plot, with many layers of twists and secrets that lead up to a spectacular finale. Just when you guess what happened that night, the twists keep on twisting!!! Another triumphant read by Amy Sheppard!

Mediocre plot, predictable "bad guy", wholly unlikable characters, nothing special. I can see how mystery/thriller fans might like it as the setting is different (camping in Cornwall), but this is just another frenemies reunion where the least likable person is killed and everyone's dirty secrets come out, to the complete destruction of relationships.

In the author's attempt to build intrigue, she plays too hard at referencing things seemingly important to the plot and not revealing the details for far too long. Who died? What happened in Charlotte's accident? Why is Oliver so angry at everyone? Why are so many going bankrupt? Etc. It took way too long to find out these plot points. The teases don't intrigue, they annoy. It's like every chapter the author plays the gimme-five/you're-too-slow trick on the reader. Annoying.

Drunken slobs, drug use, cheating, gargantuan lies, threats, blackmail, violence, deplorable behavior (in public and in front of children), nasty characters, and that painful trope of the killer being the one person the author didn't offer up as a suspect. I will have forgotten this book completely in 3 days.

I listened to this psychological thriller on audio and it had me from the start. Friends go camping and secrets are revealed and things get crazy. Friends who have been friends for a lifetime and have kept in touch through life go on a camping trip. While they have stayed in contact, they don't really know one another like they once did and there are secrets. After a drinking game one of them is found dead and they know there is a killer among them. Who is the killer? How many will be killed and will they figure out who the killer is?

This book is written from different points of views with a lot of twists and turns. It is easy to follow, and reminds us that people we know may be hiding something that we know nothing about and may be facing battles and demons. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.

I thank Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Holy. Moly.

I am usually pretty good at predicting the who in a who dun it, but this one had me literally so confused and unsure up until the end! I mean, I am still a bit in shock, but what?!

In this book, we meet a group of friends who have known each other forever - they are family to one another. But of course, every family has their secrets. The group plans a camping trip to not only get together but to celebrate the 18th birthday of Rose - I like to think of her as the whole group’s daughter because she seems to be close to them all! There were a lot of twists and turns and so many scandalous plot lines my head was spinning, but in the best of ways!

I listened to the audio and thought that the narrator was great. She differentiated enough between the characters to keep my interest - and when she does little Theo’s voice? That “MUMMY!” made me smile every time :)

I recommend this book if you like a good whodunit - I think this would be a great read in physical or Kindle form as well because the plot and storyline were very engaging! I will check out more from this author (who also writes cookbooks! I will check those out because I LOVE a good cookbook).

The Last Holiday
By; Amy Sheppard
Narrator: Naomi Frederick

What can go wrong when old friends get together for a getaway? A weekend of camping should be relaxing and peaceful. Playing games can be deadly as secrets come out.
Secrets, blackmail, murder, infidelity and more come to the forefront of this novel. Annie is now dead. So many motives. Whose secrets will come out? Was murder worth covering up their secret?

This was my second by this author. Another gripping thriller. Due out May 30, 2023. The narrator did a brilliant job with this novel. Her voice and the drama in this novel is the perfect match

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The people in this novel were so dysfunctional and messed up. All of them seemed like they could have been guilty, but I never suspected who the actual killer was. The twist at the end was a good one and I did not see that coming.

This is a book I listened to rather than read. I did so whilst gardening and quite enjoyed the entertainment value as it was well read. However, if I had been reading it, I would probably have just skipped through it as I didn't warm to any of the characters and felt no investment in any of them as people. I suppose this is intended as it gives everyone motive for the eventual crime. the ending is rather sad and disappointing in my opinion. I won't give away why here as it will definitely spoil it for a reader. I'm just glad that I don't have friends like these! Oh and publisher....PLEASE correct grammar before going to print.... its, 'my friend and I', not, 'me and him'.

Filled with intrigue, suspense and drama; exactly what you want from a psychological mystery thriller.

A group of old friends meet at a camp site for a holiday and you can bet they’re all harbouring years of secrets, resentment and angst. With this much shared history, there’s bound to be some clashes so when one of the group ends up dead, it seems many have a motive for murder…

This was such an entertaining read and I was so eager to find out what had happened and who had done it. With split timeframes and perspectives, you definitely have to keep your wits about you but slowly and surely you start to build up a picture as to what might happen. I did not see some of the twists and turns coming and many shocked face emoji moments.

The audiobook was a great listen and definitely added to the entertainment factor and ease of reading. It was super easy to get into and keep picking up. I finished it in a few days and it went so quick!

The Holiday is a story of lifelong friendships, secrets, lies and betrayal that results in murder
This is a well written book with many twists and turns. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read/listen to the audiobook.

This is the first book I have tried from this author and let me tell you I was not disappointed.
The story centres around a group of college friends who when in their 30's, all decide to take a camping trip to Cornwall to celebrate Rose, daughter of Annie and god daughter to Stella and Charlotte, 18th birthday.
As the story unfolds so does a tangled web of deciet, insecurities and the ultimate betrayal - you can decide which is which if/when you read it as there is more than one
The story had twists and turns a plenty. It reminded me a little of TM Logan's The Holiday - same concept of a group of friends going away together, broody teenagers that arise suspicion, suspected duplicity in terms of are they just friends or is there more to it? and obviously death. In short, it was a blooming good read,, I had my suspicions of who done it, but the author threw a curve ball and had you thinking it was someone else who committed the murder. I was however, really surprised by the added little twist in the final 5-10% of the book and I don't mind admitting it did make me feel a little sad.

Highly recommended book and I will definitely be checking out Amy Sheppards back catalogue.

A review has also been submitted on Good Reads by Lisa, as the link for this website did not work due to an issue with it recognising the ISBN

The Last Holiday, by Amy Sheppard

Oh wow! This was a great thriller with some clever twists 👏🏻

A group of old college friends get together for a camping holiday in Cornwall. They’ve drifted apart over the years, but Annie’s daughter, Rose, is celebrating her 18th birthday and this brings them together again. I could sense there was underlying tension in the atmosphere, which started to build once they started drinking and I was hooked, waiting for the drama to unfold.

A few days into the holiday, Annie is found murdered. From this point on, the author cleverly weaves a web of intrigue, using flashbacks and told from the POV of some of the other characters. I enjoyed discovering how Annie had gathered secrets about them all over the years, and manipulated them to her own ends, giving them all a motive for her murder.

I liked the pace of the book and how the author drip fed the reveals throughout the book, so that every time I started to think I may have sussed the murderer, another suspect would drop into my lap. I certainly didn’t guess the brilliant twist towards the end - stunning!

The only thing I didn’t like is the repeated use of “me and (name)”, rather than “(name) and I”. I found that poor grammar annoying, but it’s a minor detail in the grand scheme of a brilliant book 😊

Excellent narration by Naomi Frederick.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free audio book in exchange for an honest review. This is narrated by Naomi Frederick who does an excellent job of telling this story. I highly recommend the audio version if that is of interest.

We meet a lifelong group of friends who are getting together for a long overdue camping trip in Cornwall to reconnect and catch up on their lives. The group dynamics have become more complex as the years have passed with a divorce, affairs and new spouses, let alone the secrets everyone has in their own lives. Everything reaches a head on Saturday night around the campfire when the group plays a drinking game that gets out of hand with people saying things they regret.

Later, the primary instigator of the game, Annie, is found murdered nearby and everyone is a suspect because everyone has a motive. It was interesting to go on the journey to see the killer would be. The three narrators are 3 women and a dual timeline is effectively used.

It could have been a bit shorter and did drag a bit in the middle but overall a good listen. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.