The Holiday Cottage

by Maria Frankland

It was supposed to be a holiday to fix the cracks in our fractured family. I knew the seven days would be endless, but I never imagined that one of us would only survive for six of them…

As I carry my case into the charming and rustic cottage and smile at my sister-in-law, Kelli, I allow myself a moment of hope. Perhaps this holiday will force our family to address our long-held grudges and leave with the promise of a happier future.

But my vision of harmonious meals and exciting outdoor pursuits is dashed on the first night as all my effort goes into dodging the catty remarks of my other sister-in-law, Martha and avoiding the relentless misogyny of my father-in-law, Karl.

Longstanding rivalries reignite, leaving my mother-in-law, Gill, helpless in her quest for a perfect holiday. Only my daughter seems oblivious to the toxicity swirling around her. I go to bed at the same time as her on the first night, wondering how I’ll make it to the end of the week.

As the tension escalates with every passing day, the secrets among us transform the cottage into a pressure cooker, pushing us all to the brink. The picturesque location offers no refuge, and the looming eruption becomes inevitable. Soon, someone among us will take drastic measures to silence a voice that has become unbearable.

As the ultimate showdown between us explodes, it becomes clear there is only one way the holiday is going to end.

One of us will be a victim.

Another will be a killer…

Perfect for fans of Daniel Hurst, Sue Watson and Freida McFadden, this is a compelling and page-turning psychological thriller full of twists and turns.

Genres: Thriller, Amazon, Psychological Thriller

314 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2024

About the author

Maria Frankland has a dubious internet search history and a very worried mother-in-law. However, neither of these things can stop her writing gripping psychological thrillers in which you’ll never find a happy-ever-after.

Her novels are mostly set in Yorkshire where you’ll hear the accent through all her characters. These are people you could live next door to, or closer still… don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Maria’s novels are fast-paced, down to earth and realistic. You never know what’s around the corner…

Find out more about Maria at https://www.mariafrankland.co.uk. Whilst you’re there, you can download your free novella – The Brother-in-Law.

Reviews

[Julie Devonald-Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books this year if I could give it more than 5stars I would. What a family and omg what a brilliant book

[C.A. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Holiday Cottage by Maria Frankland is a captivating psychological thriller that draws readers into a world of family secrets, betrayal, and suspense.

This story unfolds gradually, which invited me into a complex game of deception where one character will come out as a victim.

Maria skillfully weaves suspense, using the quiet and seemingly peaceful setting to intensify the drama. The cottage, surrounded by its charming yet slightly eerie environment, takes on a life of its own.

Maria tells the story with finesse, ensuring an exciting and engaging reading experience.
This book is a must-read for fans of thrillers looking for a rollercoaster of emotions, surprising twists, and a gripping plot. Get ready to be glued to your seat!

[Bob Fendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredibly outstanding and addictive thriller The Holiday Cottage by Maria is, I was totally drawn and hooked into this book from the prologue. Plan to bring a hugely dysfunctional family together by Gill the mother and reveal some secrets kept from the family, also the escape and gain freedom from her controlling and abusive husband Karl. Not everything goes quite to plan and so much more secrets come to light. This one did keep me guessing how this was going go and was going to be the one who did the deed. I absolutely loved The Holiday Cottage a book I couldn't put down, and is a definite must-read book. Truly deserving of the 5 stars.

[Tina A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing better than getting a very dysfunctional family together for an entire week at a remote cottage! This domestic thriller has all the right kind of crazy in it that kept my interest from beginning to end. Maria Frankland once again creates very memorable characters for the mysterious plot and surprising conclusion. I really enjoyed the book and was so invested in the characters, I didn’t want it to end! The one thing that I find unique in Maria Frankland’s writing is her superb character development which I imagine could be written into screen plays for domestic thriller movies!

[A.J. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read

A dysfunctional family spending the week together in a remote holiday cottage in the Yorkshire Dales – this had all the psych thriller vibes for me, and Maria Frankland did not disappoint. As the week in the cottage passes, we learn more about the secrets and lies of each family member, each one if flawed in their own way, and murder is thrown into the mix. The author has a unique way of drawing you in with her relatable characters and twisty plots. I can’t wait to read her next one!

[Pheadra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to be selected as an advance reader of this engrossing story. It centers around a dysfunctional family, secrets, abuse, bullying, lies, murder... In fact, there isn't much this story doesn't feature, but what I liked best is how much dialogue it includes. Unlike so many "thrillers" that are all show and no tell, this featured a whole lot of tell which transports the reader to the scene, in this instance a cottage located in a remote area of the Yorkshire Dales, where a family spends a week together. Through the dialogue, we get to see the true colours of each person featured. The head of the household is Karl, a bully and abusive narcissist. The only person he gets along with is his equally unlikeable daughter-in-law, Martha. His long-suffering wife Gill is pivotal in this story but the story is so balanced, not a single character (2 sons, and their spouses, a daughter and her partner, and a grandchild together with a character, Jason, we only learn the truth about towards the end) dominates over the others. Completed in just over a day, this story will keep you glued and isn't so far-fetched as to be deemed implausible. 5 🌟

[Lisa Buckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read, a little predictable in parts. I am usually hooked by her books but this one was a little slower to get into and not one of her best to read.

[Gary Dowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Frankland is great at taking normal situations, adding a couple of seriously unpleasant characters and ramping the tension up to eleven and she's done it again with The Holiday Cottage.
On a dying man's wish, a family are brought together for a week away in a remote cottage and right from the outset, certain characters don't want to go but eventual relent to pressure. What follows are disagreements, arguments, revelations and surprises which ultimately result in huge tensions and, as the teaser prologue hints, a death. Its fast paced and although I saw a couple of twists coming, there are plenty of surprises that had the wow factor.
I actually read the majority of this staying in a holiday cottage which was a bit weird and thankfully experienced none of the issues in the book and although Frenemy remains my favourite, this is a close second.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dysfunctional family forced to spend a week together

The Holiday Cottage. by Maria Frankland  is a tense domestic psychological thriller about a deeply dysfunctional family forced to spend a week together in a remote cottage. The holiday quickly turns into a pressure cooker of resentment, long-buried secrets, and escalating conflict that ultimately leads to murder. 


Frankland uses the isolated, picturesque setting to heighten the claustrophobia and emotional volatility, making the cottage feel almost like a character in its own right.  The family members are flawed. The shifting viewpoints gradually reveal layers of deceit and long-standing grievances. Arguments, revelations, and betrayals pile up, delivering several satisfying twists. 

[Mrs MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could I would give this book 10 stars really enjoyed it great story with lots of twists and turns. Can not wait to read more of her books!!!

[Lucy Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book 📕

[Rebecca Graham]

Actually was so easy to read. But you’re desperate to know who did it!! So you read quicker!!

Really enjoyed this book and the different perspectives and the plotting and scheming!!! Brill

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maria Frankland’s latest book, ‘The Holiday Cottage’, is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of familial relationships, particularly those marred by narcissism and toxicity.
Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic holiday getaway, presenting characters that are not only relatable but also deeply flawed.
The story explores the lives of the characters, allowing us to dig in to their backstories. As the layers of their personalities are peeled back, we begin to understand the underlying tensions and rivalries that will inevitably come to a head during the holiday.
The tension builds steadily as the plot unfolds, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns.
I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating story and look forward to what Maria Frankland has in store next.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love books about dysfunctional families, then this book is a gold mine! The pacing is great with rising tension throughout. There’s an evil daughter-in law, a sexual current between another daughter-in-law and a brother, and a tyrant father. There’s even mysterious pasts centering around the matriarch! My only issue is that I wanted more! But the author hints that she may yet bring these characters back to life!

[Denise Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to be chosen to read this advanced copy. Wow! Gill calls her children to come on a holiday vacation with the whole family. Most are reluctant to come, as some of them see it as a dysfunctional family and don’t want to be around their authoritarian father, Karl. This thriller is tense and edgy, and kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s filled with likable and unlikable characters, a couple of whom I formed an emotional connection with. I love books with changing point of views, so we get to know what everyone is thinking. Definitely did not see the big twist at the end coming!!!

[Milena Carrera☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

¿Lo terminé en un día? sí, ¿me encantó? no. Pero engancha muchísimo al punto de que no lo podía soltar.

Este es mi tercer libro consecutivo de la autora en lo que va del año. Su historias tienen ese algo que me atrapa y me gusta, creo que es la sencillez de su narrativa (sin caer en lo básico) y la cantidad de drama que mete en sus historias y las relaciones de sus personajes (lo cual me encanta. Más drama, por favor). No son libros profundos ni siento que son para todo el mundo, tampoco tienen un gran giro argumental (al menos puedo hablar de los que leí), pero sin duda me dejó con ganas de leer más de ella.

Lo que me pasó con este libro es que todos me caían mal, o más bien la mayoría. No soporté a Karl, Rylan ni a Erin. Hasta Martha me cayó mejor que esta última, quizás porque ella al menos no intenta fingir que es buena persona, es mala y ya.

Sin duda Gill fue mi personaje favorito, me transmitió vibras muy bonitas y siento, por alguna extraña razón, que huele a vainilla y a miel. Kelli y Ben fueron mi pareja favorita. Alice me causó ternura. Solo me cayeron bien ellos, nadie más. Nadie. ¿Ya remarqué lo mal que me cayeron los demás?

Pd: Esta autora es mi gran descubrimiento de 2026, creo que de ahora en más será mi autora de confianza.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW what a fantastic psychological thriller The Holiday Cottage by Maria Frankland was I just could not put it down.

A family who are staying in a holiday cottage for a whole week at the request of deceased great gandfather Joe's wishes and instigated by Grandfather Karl who holds the sons in the family in high regard but not the women.

Grandmother Gill has a secret she wants to share sometime soon but tensions are high as siblings and their partners are at loggerheads. Karl knows one of his wife's secrets and he would like to reveal it sometime soon too.

Who is going to be the last man standing as one member of the family is going to be murdered and how will they all cope after the aftermath?

I am wondering if there may be a sequel in the way this fantastic thriller ended.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever I read a book by this author, I’m thankful for my boring family…

As of now, I’ve caught up reading all of Maria Frankland’s books, and it has been quite the enjoyable ride! Each of her books has at least one, but often two or three (or occasionally more) people in it who I am hoping that if there is a murder, that they will be the victims. There are also usually at least one or two people that I want to root for, although sometimes it takes a good part of the book for me to figure out which one(s). This book definitely made me thankful for my 35+ years of being very happily married to a kind, non-violent husband, and for my extremely ordinary and boring family. It was excellent, and very twisty. I am now waiting for the next new release by this favorite author, and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

[Cheryl Litchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

What an amazing book. I absolutely devoured this book and read it within two days. I could’ve read it within one day to be honest. it was fast paced and full of dark tension. I had to keep reading just to see what would happen. It’s so well written and truly draws the reader into the circle of the family. You obviously have your own ideas of what people have done and who people are. I did not expect Jason to be who he was but then I should’ve known. The only thing I felt at the end was a little deflated and I think that was because I just didn’t want to have to put the book down. I wanted the story to keep going. If that is a good sign of a book then it’s definitely a brilliant book. I would highly recommend this to anybody. I love the dark tension in it. It’s a brilliant psychological thriller.

[nikki sawulski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what all the hype is about with this one. The entire book is over the course of 7 days in a cottage in the middle of nowhere. The mother is a complete pushover and has endured 30+ years of abuse at the hands of her narcissistic and psychopathic husband. He’s also mentally abused the kids, who are now adults in their 30s, but who are also pushovers, no doubt from years of abuse and watching their mother lay down for their father. Even the spouses whom have married into the family allow the father to continue his constant abuse.
No one does or says anything to halt the insanity - until they do. It’s not surprising - it’s shocking it took so long. And then it just ends. You get an epilogue of mediocre proportions.

[AGilden · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the hell? This was a really strange one with the most dysfunctional family ever spending a week together in a holiday cottage. Much of the story involved argument after argument after argument which, though useful for understanding the characters and their relationships, became a tad repetitive. But at around 45%, things started happening and the revelations and secrets started coming thick and fast. Must of my curiosity while reading stemmed from the fact that I knew from the start that one family member would be killed, which kept me engaged. The ending was also action-packed and satisfying. 3.5 sars.

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracker from Maria!

The holiday cottage reeled me straight in from the opening chapter and it most definitely kept me turning the pages even keeping me up way past my bedtime but it was well worth the late night.

The plot is gripping and at points uncomfortable, and I could really feel the mood throughout as if I were really there. The characters are great and there are a few you will most certainly love to hate but I loved the multiple viewpoints and the characters development throughout.

I very much enjoyed this book and am now awaiting the next, no pressure Maria!

[Carla Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE

This one dragged for me; evident in the length of time it felt ir took me to complete.
Not to mention my frustration as I neared the end. I just felt that there was so much unnecessary text.

That’s not to say the whole book was bad.
I found the characters within this story of a dysfunctional family were well thought out. And the setting was just sensational and worked really well in the build up of tension in this domestic thriller.

Unfortunately due to the predictability, along with the slowness I am regrettably only able to award three stars.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the narration of Jenny Myers, who brings the this thriller, emotion and suspense to your ears.

Gill and the whole family go on a holiday. Some are reluctant to go and the rest don’t want to be around their father, Karl. All in a charming cottage but is it all that it seems like the family.
This book is full of suspense, drama. A thriller full of of twists and a rollercoaster of emotions.

[Julie Haigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star easy read from Maria Frankland.

I enjoyed The Holiday Cottage, which explores the complexity of relationships. Those who should be closest-but often aren't.

There's plenty to keep you turning the pages: Tensions and conflict.  Secrets.  Intriguing, I was hooked right in.

Great dialogue, and some characters that you get to care about.  Twists that you don't see coming. But it's all believable, and I was totally immersed in it.

[Jo Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ❤️ all Maria Frankland books and this one did not disappoint. The story line is full of twists and shady characters that you either love or dislike right from tje start you are hooked. I read this book within 24 hours as I wanted to see what the next twist would be.
Another amazing book by a brilliant author you will not be disappointed.

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read, a really good storyline that had me gripped from the start. I found myself rooting for some and seriously hoping others got their comeuppance hahaha. A story of dysfunctional families and one arrogant (careful how I word this lol) bottom hole at the helm with his just as god awful side kick. A great author who turns out great books.

[Rob Eamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. The author did a great job creating tension between the characters and showing each characters nuances. I wouldn't necessarily call it a psychological thriller but it was fun to read and there were some great twists that I didn't see coming. I'd definitely recommend this book.

[Lauren Clough · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t find this book gripped me as much as some of the authors previous work. The characters were well written but I found a lot of the story quite boring and it didn’t flow very well for me. It wasn’t really a thriller and there was no twist to speak of. Not my cup of tea but an okay read if you’re bored.

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE by The Fabulous Maria Frankland.
I've been looking forward to reading this book for weeks and I've finally got around to reading it.
I thought my family were dysfunction. Turns out we are pretty normal compared to the family in this book 🤣
Another brilliant book
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s once again