From the prologue alone I was hooked. I wanted to know what this woman had done to this family and why!

The middle of the book lost a little bit of momentum. At that point a lot of the mystery had been revealed, but I was still anxiously waiting to see how things panned out.

In the end I was pleased with how things tied up. Not necessarily "neat with a bow", but sometimes I prefer that with this style of book. All questions were answered and I felt like the book had closure.

Thank you Bookouture for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I planned the perfect vacation. But now my son is missing.... everyone believes my husband Donovan and I have it all - a loving marriage, two adorable children, and the dream house. But beneath the surface of our enviable American lifestyle lies a secret that binds us tighter than our vows. I thought we could keep the truth buried forever, but I was wrong. To protect the secrets of my past, we have to go to Ireland to find the woman who has the power to shatter my perfect family. And I'm prepared to do anything to stop her.... Except my plan for revenge has gone horribly wrong. And now my eight-year-old son Barnaby is missing.

I was pulled into this story by the end of the first page, The Family Trip is set in Ireland where the Conway family hire Shannon to do a private tour of Ireland, taking in the remote and exclusive spots. Donovan and Rosalind have a son and daughter, but the daughter, Esme, is in boarding school, so they take their son, Barnaby, with them and his nanny, Philippa, to care for him. It's clear the Conway's have an ulterior motive to make the trip to Ireland from Boston. Not all is as it seems. The characters are we;;-developed. The story is told from Rosalind and Shannon's perspectives. This fast-paced read is filled with twists. Another thoroughly enjoyable read by the author.

Published 31st May

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #DanielHurst for my ARC of #TheFamilyTrip in exchange for an honest review.

Another great and easy read from Daniel Hurst. Totally addictive as usual as he writes a great story yet again. Many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Daniel Hurst, the king of revenge plots, returns following The Doctor's Child with another twisty, mind-bending thriller, THE FAMILY TRIP. A family hires a tour guide for an Ireland holiday; however, things are not as they seem, leading to dangerous and unexpected twists.

About...

The Conways, a wealthy American family, vanished without a trace during their holiday in Ireland. The mystery of their disappearance has captivated the media, and a five-million-dollar reward has been offered for any information leading to their whereabouts.

Shannon O'Shea is a tour guide in Dublin, but she does not make much money, and her boss gets most of the profit. Her friends say she should start her own tour guide agency. She tried it and closed the business with nothing to her name.

When she receives a message from a woman named Rosalind about a guided tour and is willing to pay a lot of money, she jumps at the chance for this golden opportunity. First, $10K when she turns it down. Then the offer is $20 for a personalized five-day tour.

Donovan and Rosalind are a wealthy couple from Wellesley in Boston, MA. They are traveling to Ireland with their young son, Barnaby, and nanny, Philippa, for an authentic Irish experience.

Is this the best or worst day of Shannon's life? She soon will discover. Things do not turn out the way Shannon planned. How did this couple choose her? What were their motives?

Soon, Shannon realizes she is caught in a dangerous web of deceit, secrets, and lies. The couple has a sinister plot in motion, and she is in the middle. But things are not as they seem... Trust no one.

My thoughts...

THE FAMILY TRIP is another twisty wicked domestic suspense told from POVs— Shannon and Rosalind with a jaw-dropping twist. While not one of my favorites, it is still a fun, quick summer entertaining popcorn thriller!

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a gifted, advanced reading copy for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: May 31, 2024
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Wow! The premise of this book was rather unique. It kept me guessing the whole way through with not only one twist but TWO! I’ve read a few from this author and have always enjoyed them. Thanks for the ARC and I’ll definitely read more from this author!

Thanks for a character named after me Mr. Hurst! I loved this! I totally thought I had this figured out and I was way wrong!
Character development was spot on as expected with a Hurst book, I could picture myself in scenes throughout and was as always distracted to see it end.

Thank you NetGalkey, Bookouture, and Daniel Hurst for the chance to read an advance copy of The Family Trip. Exp. Publication date May 31, 2024.

This was a good one! I would love to see a sequel to The Family Trip to see how the events unfold after the epilogue. Can't say too much about that as to not give away how this one ended. This was quite a thrill ride, Shannon is hired to provide a private tour of Ireland for a very wealthy American family. Why are they willing to pay her so much for this tour, and off the record of the tour agency she works at no less. You'll have to check out The Family Trip to find out! I love Daniel Hurst and am so grateful ful to have the opportunity to have read this prior to release!

Gripping, thrilling, shocking, and hard to put down! This book is heavy on drama, lies, deception, manipulation, and diabolical behavior. In short, it was a fun and entertaining read! I could not stop turning the pages, as questions were swirling around in my mind, and I was desperate for answers. I loved riding the wave of twists and turns to the thrilling conclusion!

Shannon is a tour guide who thinks she has found the answer to her financial troubles when she is hired by an American Couple to show them around Ireland. When they arrive, Shannon is shocked to see they brought their son and nanny but quickly jumps into action to change accommodations and activities. Little does she know that this is only the beginning.

Daniel Hurst always has a few cards up his sleeve and he kept me fully invested in the plot, wanting to yell at some characters, boo, and hiss at others, while shaking my head, and enjoying the journey the characters and I were experiencing.

The Family Trip is a fast paced book full of vivid descriptions of the Irish landscape and attractions. The secrets, lies, twists, turns, reveals, and tension made for a fun, entertaining, and riveting read!

Daniel Hurst is one of those authors you just can't go wrong with. I would classify his books as popcorn thrillers. Fast paced and plot driven.
His latest book The family trip is about an Irish tour guide called Shannon who get propositioned by a wealthy American family to give them a private exclusive tour or Ireland and they offer her a too good to turn down deal. What Shannon doesn't realise is that the family have a sinister reason for specifically wanting to hire Shannon. Will she realise before it's too late?
Whilst The family trip was indeed entertaining, quick to read and easy to follow, I felt the 'twists' at least the important ones were very easily guessed early on. If a shockingly good twist at the end is what you are after then don't hold your breath although there is a small one I did NOT see coming towards the very end.
Fans of Frieda Mcfadden will no doubt enjoy Daniel Hurst's books too and in my opinion they are similar in style and execution.
All in all and enjoyable read although not one of Daniel's best. I will no doubt look forward to reading more from him.

This was my first book by the author. I was intrigued by the cover quote and requested it right away when I read the description. Following the Conway family as they take a special trip to Ireland enlisting the help of Shannon as their guide. The family seems to be holding something back, and Shannon is just trying to make sure the family has a good trip while wondering what the Conways could be hiding.

What I liked about this book was how it was told in various points of view to show the whole story in different lenses. Shannon is trying to provide the best trip possible while Rosalind seems to be hiding a big secret. What I enjoyed was that the reason they chose Shannon as their guide was a mystery for a while and then the reveal had me surprised. The book had a way of keeping me interested and the pages turning all the way to the end.

Overall this was a really good read; I would love to read more from the author. This is certainly a book new and old thriller fans will enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC for review purposes.

Daniel Hurst’s The Family Trip is exactly that: a trip! This crazy mystery has characters plotting and enacting crazy schemes and adventures, beginning with the Conway’s seeking a private tour guide for their family trip to Ireland.

The Conway’s wealth allows them to meet any price for just about anything, and because of this, they were able to sway Shannon O’Shea, a veteran tour guide from Dublin, to take them on a bespoke tour of Ireland. Shannon agrees, despite this being against the rules for her current contract with the tour guide company that employs her.

The tour is manipulated by both Conways, but the son and nanny aren’t affected, unlike the stressed-out Shannon. It wasn’t until the Conways leveled up the head games that Shannon began to try to establish a plan where she still gets paid, but gets away and not further involved in their web.

The twists and turns don’t stop with the end of the tour, and you won’t believe what comes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

I just finished this book and want to scream 😱. I feel that this book is going to be the first in a series and I want the next one ASAP!! It's amazing how this author can make me feel such rollercoaster of emotions throughout the book. Please write a sequel fast !!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this book! The prologue had me instantly hooked and the rest of the book did not disappoint. I enjoyed the different character points of view/character development and the story kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was coming next. This was my first read by Daniel Hurst and it will not be my last. Overall I enjoyed it and I will definitely be checking out other titles from this author!

Thank you to Daniel Hurst, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Family Trip is a rollercoaster of suspense, with unexpected twists and heart-pounding moments.

Rosalind and Donovan Conway appear to have it all: lots of money, a loving marriage, two children, and a dream house. But beneath their enviable lifestyle lies a secret that binds them tighter than their vows.

Hurst’s writing style is crisp and engaging, pulled me into the story from the very first page. The pacing is relentless, which made it difficult to put the book down.
Kudos to Daniel. Another book well done!!

Daniel Hurst’s latest novel, The Family Trip, is a fast paced thriller, with many twists and reveals.

We start off with an American couple Rosalind and Donovan Conway. They are traveling to Ireland with their child Barnaby. We also meet Shannon, a tour guide who grew up in Ireland. Although Mr. Hurst has not revealed the connection, we know that the Conway’s have a lot of animosity for Shannon. I liked that the author kept us in the dark for awhile instead of revealing it in the beginning. My mind was all over the place trying to figure it out.

The Conway’s hire Shannon as their personal tour guide and the story unfolds in two POVs, Shannon’s and Rosalind’s. The Conway’s were definitely not likable characters. They are rich, manipulative, used to getting everything they want and not caring who gets hurt in the process. I would even go as far as to say that they are evil people. Shannon, is a good hearted person, but a bit naive. She is more likable and she tries her best to cater to the Conway’s whims and demands. Other characters in the book include Barnaby Conway and his nanny Phillipa.

I enjoyed the tension in the book. Many times I wanted to yell at Shannon and tell her to run from these people. Shannon takes the family to more remote, less tourist like areas. The descriptions of these places really intrigued me and I confess I had to google a map of Ireland and photos of some of the beautiful locations. The author definitely did them justice. The locations were scenic and majestic.

Overall I enjoyed The Family Trip very much. It is fast paced and keeps you guessing. I felt swept away by the grandeur of the Irish countryside, beaches, and caves.

I look forward to reading more from Mr. Durst. His writing definitely appeals to the thriller crowd and if you are fans of other thriller authors like Freida McFadden or Riley Sager, you will like this too!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This felt drawn out. The pacing is very slow and took until 60% to build interest. Overall the twists were predictable and the characters were frustrating.

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

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Family Trip’ written by Daniel Hurst in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Dublin-based travel guide Shannon O’Shea is contacted by Rosalind Conway who promises her a sizeable amount of money to arrange a week’s sightseeing trip for herself and her husband Donovan. But Shannon doesn’t know the real reason behind their choosing her and by the end of the week she’s going to wish she’d never met them.

‘The Family Trip’ is another first-class thriller by an author who’s fast becoming a favourite of mine. What starts as a pleasant trip arranged for a wealthy though thoroughly unpleasant couple with their young son and his nanny turns into a nightmare for Shannon. It’s well written with an ingenious plot that’s faultlessly executed with suspense, drama and twists and turns. As the plot progresses the tension increases until the conclusion is reached and the final unexpected twist revealed. The epilogue comes as a huge surprise and has left me wanting to know more of what happens to Shannon. This is an excellent novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and can wholeheartedly recommend.

This story had me drawn right in from page 1. Daniel Hurst always writes such gripping thrillers that I cannot put down. I really enjoyed the character building throughout the story, Shannon was probably my favourite. She started off so naive and by the end of the book she was a whole different character. the plot twist that happened around half way through the book made me just about GASP! after that it was twist after twist. I didn't see the ending coming to say none the less.

Synopsis - Shannon is an Irish tour guide and she gets an unexpected email from an American woman named Rosalind Conway who asked Shannon to arrange a private tour around Ireland. Shannon agrees to be the tour guide as the amount she was getting paid was too goof ot be true. Rosalind Conway meanwhile had specifically chosen Shannon as a tour guide for one main reason--to seek revenge.

Good points- from start to finish, the story was intense and gripping. The whole story in general was very well written and this was actually fast paced too, filled with unexpected twists and turns you didn't expect. The whole story is told by Shannon's and Rosalind's POV and as a reader, we get to know Rosalind's sinister motive in hiring Shannon. And as a reader, we wonder if Shannon might be able to get away from whatever ploy Rosalind and her husband was planning on her. The ending of the story was completely unexpected and twisted. This was actually a quiet page turner thriller and once you start reading this book, you wouldn't be able to put the book down.

Bad points - I didn't see much of bad points in this book. This book was that literally good.

Overall verdict - if you are fans of Freida McFadden, then this book would be a perfect choice. This is the second book I have read from this author and I already loved his novels. I cannot wait to read more from this author. This is a page turning fast paced thriller that will keep you up all night, filled with twists and turns--worth 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion.

Shannon a tour guide in Ireland is offered a life changing sum of money by Rosalind to be a guide specific to the Conway group, but things aren't quite as they seem, something is a little dodgy.
Shannon is desperate for the money and Rosalind is determined and demands that this go ahead without any errors.
The twists and turns at the end are fabulous but hey it's a Daniel Hurst book, I wouldn't expect any less!
This book gripped me by chapter two and was fast paced and I could not put it down. This author repeatedly and successfully writes well paced psychological thrillers, guaranteed fantastic reads!
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to have an early enjoyable 5* read.