I saw this cover a few months ago and was really anxious to read it. A little over the top for me. I am a Christian, but the get on your knees and pray stuff was a little too much. I grew up Catholic and am well aware of what some boys experienced when they were young. The fact that Suzie kept telling him to get over it was unrealistic to me. A few too many "stupid bitch and stupid cow." I mean why would these two want to have a baby together anyway? They clearly hate and don't trust each other. This could have been a really good thriller with a triangle of Suzie, George, and Amelia. The potential was there. Fell flat.

Suzie and her husband George are off to Tenerife on holiday. George is the good looking loud brash sort rather different to quiet introverted, religious, modest Suzie. Suzie has won a large amount of money but due to George’s gambling and debts won’t let him get his hands on the money for fear he may lose it all. Suzie has had a couple of miscarriages and George, who really doesn't want a family, doesn't understand her pain or why he can't get his hands on the money. He complains bitterly about pretty much everything. When Suzie chats to a woman who was on the same plane, she thinks Amelia may know George as he has also been known to more than flirt with other women even whilst married. Can the couple work things out when they are poles apart and who is Amelia really?

This is another brilliantly written piece of work from John, and one that very much kept me turning for “ just another chapter”. Had real life not got in the way, I would happily have read this in one sitting. It's clever, it's adeptly planned and crafted. One where I didn't like any of the characters for various reasons, each at opposite ends of varying spectrums. There are twists and turns and red herrings skilfully interpolated. A thoroughly enjoyable read I raced through. Loved it.

The Holiday by John Nicholl is a pacey thriller that kept me on my toes. I am relatively new to the work of this author, but I must admit that he has very rapidly become a must read for me.

Suzie and her husband George are holidaying in Tenerife, but it soon becomes apparent that there is very serious trouble in the marriage. This is amplified when George turns his attention to the statuesque woman aboard their flight. As the bickering between the couple continues to escalate, it is obvious that money is at the heart of their squabbles. Suzie holds the purse strings, much to George's frustration and resentment. And it is during the holiday when breaking points will be reached, plans will be hatched, and true characters will be revealed.

This one kept me guessing until the very end, while successfully ensuring that I remained unbalanced throughout. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the copy of The Holiday by John Nicholl. Suzie and George were both deplorable characters, and I didn’t even want to keep reading about them. After many pages of sniping at each other, something finally happened that advanced the storyline, but was it enough after almost 30% of the book? Somehow the book never took off for me and the writing didn't engage me. I could have done without the gratuitous ‘intimate’ scenes that seemed right out of the brain of a teenager. The inclusion of religion could have been a great statement, but was just odd. If you love reading thrillers for the reveals and surprises, you might love this one, but I don’t think it was for me.

Suzie is a good, Catholic woman. Unfortunately, her husband George, isn’t good. He doesn’t love Suzie anymore and has many affairs.

George wants Suzie’s money that she has won, but Suzie won’t entertain the idea as she knows just the sort of person her husband is.

Will their holiday in Tenerife get their marriage back on track? Just how far will George go to get what he wants?

An enjoyable and well written story. The detail in the tale was great, I had a real sense of where they holidayed and also when they were back home in Wales, thanks to the descriptive writing.

There were plenty of stings along the way to throw you off track. I kept thinking I had the whole story worked out, but I kept on being proved wrong!

George wasn’t a nice character at all, he was extremely vain and came across as though he thought he was God’s gift to all women.

I felt sorry for Suzie to a degree, but also felt that she didn’t help herself.

Interesting and believable characters. Although they weren’t in the story for long, I did like the characters of Lewis and Kesey.

My thanks to Boldwood Books, the author and NegGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.