I choose this book as most seasonal offerings are usually cute romances, which although I love the odd one to give me that warm fuzzy feeling, they are mostly just the same story! This however, is not like that at all! Quite a dysfunctional family with so much baggage ready to explode into the hothouse of festive celebrations. Lots of twists alongside the disagreements. Certainly a different festive read.

3.5 stars rounded up

Let me start by saying I have never not finished reading a book which is lucky for this one because it got off to a rocky start and there were a lot of ups and downs for me, it didn’t immediately draw me in and was very repetitive but I’m glad that I stuck with it. It’s centred around a very dysfunctional family at Christmas time. It took until part 2 of the book for me to start getting into it and for there to be any real action but after that there were a couple of twists that I did not see coming. This was an easy read which is more of a domestic thriller than a psychological thriller but overall I ended up enjoying the story.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very good page turner. Unexpected turns though, thought I'd figured it all out, but I was so wrong

I wanted to read this because I hadn’t read a holiday thriller before. It sounded like an interesting story with lots of family drama. Last Christmas was a quick read, however I wish there was a more thriller aspect to the story instead of all the family drama.

I was drawn to the story. I couldn't figure the plot till the very end. I had to stop what I was doing to read the last few chapters. Its that good.

Wow what a cracking read, started this last night and read well in to the early hours, if I didn’t have to be up for work it would have been a read all in one go. I had a few inklings along the way that turned out to be right and some so wrong. All I will say is wow Rebecca is such a vile character lol, her jealousy and insecurities and need for being centre of attention just made her one of those characters. Fantastically written, great storyline and a bloody brilliant read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this one! a really great read with many twists! perfect Christmas thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Despite the depressing nature of this story, particularly being set at Christmas, I found myself wanting to read on and find out what had happened. You need to be aware of trigger warnings going in (depression, suicide, terminal illness, stalking, among others). This is one screwed up family but it made for riveting reading.

While most Christmas books I’ve read are cutesy romance books, this one took things in a different direction. While it took me a little bit to get invested, once Part 2 started, I was hooked. The premise of a depressed individual also being the least-liked in-law among relatives being the one that died made the case of his death very compelling. Did he jump or fall… or was he pushed? And if he was pushed, by whom? The three parts coming from three different points of view also lent to the storytelling. I loved that we started inside Neil’s brain, but then moved to Sacha followed by Christy. The differences in the way each narrated showed that they were all battling their own insecurities and flaws. Everyone had something to hide, and the differences in narration meant that I suspected different people of committing crimes throughout the book. While it wasn’t overly difficult to figure everything out, it was still a very enjoyable read. I was very satisfied with the way everything turned out.

A Christmas thriller that started off dramatically, and a story that is likely to make you look anew at your own family. No matter how bad things get, they’re not this bad.
We open with a couple in crisis. A husband struggling with depression and a spiralling drink problem, and a wife desperate for a baby but unable to conceive. Heading for the in-laws for Christmas it is not a happy time.
The Christmas starts badly with each of the relatives making comments. From their interactions it’s not surprising to see things escalate. Before we know it, there’s a missing person and the police involved.
Once we get the initial story underway it quickly becomes a family drama. At this point it definitely lost some of its edge, and although things rattle along at a fair pace it is a story that rather stretches credibility.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.

Get ready for a ride of twists and turns in this book. My first Maria Frankland and definitely not my last! Family that doesn’t get along and a murder close within….. a must read!

I think this book was good! I gave it a 3/5! I feel like the beginning was a bit slow for someone like me who loves thrillers but it wasn’t like super slow or anything. It was good! The last 30% had me on the edge of my seat and honestly I was just guessing all throughout the book and even though I had a feeling I knew what was going on it still had me super interested. Well worth the read! Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read this one for free in exchange for a review.

This was a good holiday thriller with an ending that was shocking. Thank you for letting me read and review it!

Last Christmas is a thriller genre novel that starts with a family trying to celebrate their father's last Christmas as he is terminally ill. The cover says "An utterly compelling and page-turning physiological thriller." I definitely wouldn't classify this as a thriller. This is more a family drama story with murder involved.

Although this was a very easy holiday read, it was extremely easy to guess who did what, how it went down, etc. There wasn't much suspense and no big surprise when everything was revealed. Christy is the only likable character in the whole book.

If you're looking for a quick holiday read, this fits the bill but don't expect to be shocked at the ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this was a quick one-day read for me, although it ended up being a pretty standard domestic suspense. don’t be fooled by the title, the first few chapters take place at a family christmas gathering but other than that, it really has nothing to do with the holidays - i was hoping for a good christmas thriller. ultimately it was a fine quick read but the ending left me unsatisfied and the characters were all a bit too annoying.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

I really enjoyed this book and I loved how it was done in parts that showed the different POVs so you followed the one POV for a lengthy time before switching again. The different turns it took was really good and compelled me to keep reading although some of it was quite predictable it was still a good read.

The writing was easy to understand and medium paced.

A thriller mystery taking place around Christmas. The story is told through three different perspectives. Several twists that I didn't see coming. A quick read that will keep you guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley for a copy of the book!

WOW. Really enjoyed this book - it gripped me right from the start. It’s written in 3 sections from 3 different characters’ points of view - The husband who dies, his wife and then his sister in law. It’s a domestic/psychological tension story set at Christmas about family interactions and awkward relationships that culminates in a murder.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. More of a domestic thriller but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I figured out the end almost halfway through but I still loved the way Maria Frankland wrapped it all up. This was a perfect Christmas book. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Book Review: Last Christmas: A Gripping Family Drama with Surprising Twists

⭐⭐⭐.5 Stars

In Last Christmas, Neil and his wife Sacha find themselves reluctantly spending the holidays with her family. Neil, already battling depression and alcoholism, faces additional challenges as the three days unfold in a confined space filled with lots of booze. With underlying tensions simmering among family members, this Christmas gathering might turn out to be more explosive than anyone could have anticipated.

Last Christmas was an okay read for me. While it had its fair share of twists and jaw-dropping moments, I felt it leaned more towards family drama than a typical psychological thriller. The characters were flawed and unlikable, which added depth to the story but made it difficult for me to fully connect with them. Nevertheless, the book was filled with enough surprises to keep me engaged until the end.

Last Christmas by Maria Frankland is a gripping and suspenseful story set against the backdrop of a family gathering during the holiday season. While opinions on this book may vary, it undeniably offers unexpected twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Whether you find it addictive and captivating or feel it leans more towards family drama, Last Christmas delivers on its promise of a thrilling read that will leave you wanting more.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️