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The Christmas Holiday
It was supposed to be the perfect Christmas. I had no idea it would end in murder....
It's my first Christmas with my new husband and we're spending it with his wealthy family in their remote, luxurious lodge in the Irish mountains. I feel completely out of my depth; their perfect world is so different to my life before I met Jack. But I've got to make this marriage work. And I'll do whatever it takes.
With the festivities in full swing, I quickly discover that behind their flawless image the Silver family are hiding plenty of secrets. Jack's glamorous step-mother Dawn welcomes me with open arms. Then I find out she's whispering about me behind my back. Just days into our stay, Jack and my successful father-in-law Patrick have a heated argument. My dream family holiday is turning into a nightmare.
Just when I think it can't get any worse, my sister-in-law Yasmin looks at me through narrowed eyes and accuses me of something terrible. I stare across the room at the man I married, hoping he will defend me, but Jack doesn't say a word. Something is very wrong. With the snow falling hard, I'm trapped in the lodge with a group of people I can't trust—and no way out. I start to wish that I'd never stepped foot in this place. And then one of our party goes missing . . . Did I make a mistake in coming here? And will it cost me my life?
It's my first Christmas with my new husband and we're spending it with his wealthy family in their remote, luxurious lodge in the Irish mountains. I feel completely out of my depth; their perfect world is so different to my life before I met Jack. But I've got to make this marriage work. And I'll do whatever it takes.
With the festivities in full swing, I quickly discover that behind their flawless image the Silver family are hiding plenty of secrets. Jack's glamorous step-mother Dawn welcomes me with open arms. Then I find out she's whispering about me behind my back. Just days into our stay, Jack and my successful father-in-law Patrick have a heated argument. My dream family holiday is turning into a nightmare.
Just when I think it can't get any worse, my sister-in-law Yasmin looks at me through narrowed eyes and accuses me of something terrible. I stare across the room at the man I married, hoping he will defend me, but Jack doesn't say a word. Something is very wrong. With the snow falling hard, I'm trapped in the lodge with a group of people I can't trust—and no way out. I start to wish that I'd never stepped foot in this place. And then one of our party goes missing . . . Did I make a mistake in coming here? And will it cost me my life?
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First published December 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
December 5, 2022
This gets 4 stars just for the fact that I couldn't put it down and was up late reading it to the end. To be sure this is like a Lifetime Christmas movie. Women in peril, suspense, messy characters and some plot points that don't quite make sense. When I'm in the mood for one of these, I decide not to squint too hard, relax my brow and just go with the fun.
Here Alicia has married the man of her dreams. He's handsome, charismatic, wealthy and after stinging her along for a decade, proposed out of nowhere. Her devotion is more like worship and you just know he and everything he's connected to is the stuff of nightmares and the avalanche of it all is coming for her). They're spending Christmas with his family in a secluded mountain lodge. She has no support system. Dead parents and best friend who died tragically a year after the parents. She's uneasy around dogs, can't have caffeine of any kind for the migraines and can't drive. She has an insatiable need to please and is also embarrassed easily and spends a lot of time blushing as a result.
The Silver family is comprised of Patrick the tyrannical patriarch, his second wife, Dawn (not the mother of his sons), Jack, Alicia's husband, Ronan, the brother, Jasmin, his wife, their baby daughter (whose name I've forgotten as she doesn't do much and is also the least menacing member of the family), Zara, Dawn's daughter and Nuala the dog. There's a lot of barely concealed menace, strife and lies going on with this group and it was great reading it all unfurl. I have to admit Alicia sometimes annoyed me enough that I didn't feel for her but she was guilty of being willfully blind and she pays dearly by book's end.
Now to the not so great. There were a few things that I just didn't believe here and in a book with all kinds of over-the-top crazy, that's saying something. First, it's established that Alicia can have caffeine of no kind as it gives her migraines. She's very cautious about it and it makes for one of her initial faux pas when she arrives at the lodge complete with her feeling awkward and blushing and worrying. Ok. Fine. So when far later in the story she has a dessert of tiramisu and loves it, after describing the ingredients including coffee, I called shenanigans. In another food-related item, I didn't buy, matriarch Dawn has a whole kitchen full of food that's professionally pre-cooked that she passes off as her own (the entire family know this) and she's felled by a nut allergy after Alicia makes her heavenly red velvet cupcakes with secret ingredient almond flour. Epi-pens are deployed, much hay is made that Alicia was negligent and should have checked no one was allergic and that probably Alicia could have killed Dawn. Shenanigans again, I say! Alicia didn't bring the almond flour. Dawn had it stocked in her own kitchen! I have a shrimp allergy, I assure you, there is no shrimp or anything with shrimp derivative in my kitchen because... obviously not! I didn't buy the premise so that whole thread fell apart. Additionally, I had a hard time believing that when Dawn can't "cook" Christmas dinner, she has a whole fresh turkey and all the trimmings just hanging in the pantry for Yasmin to step in to whip up the perfectly made dinner cooked from scratch. Why would the queen of professionally pre-made even have all that?
This was a ride and I will read another by the author! By book's end, I
I read this through Kindle Unlimited.
Happy Hols!
Here Alicia has married the man of her dreams. He's handsome, charismatic, wealthy and after stinging her along for a decade, proposed out of nowhere. Her devotion is more like worship and you just know he and everything he's connected to is the stuff of nightmares and the avalanche of it all is coming for her). They're spending Christmas with his family in a secluded mountain lodge. She has no support system. Dead parents and best friend who died tragically a year after the parents. She's uneasy around dogs, can't have caffeine of any kind for the migraines and can't drive. She has an insatiable need to please and is also embarrassed easily and spends a lot of time blushing as a result.
The Silver family is comprised of Patrick the tyrannical patriarch, his second wife, Dawn (not the mother of his sons), Jack, Alicia's husband, Ronan, the brother, Jasmin, his wife, their baby daughter (whose name I've forgotten as she doesn't do much and is also the least menacing member of the family), Zara, Dawn's daughter and Nuala the dog. There's a lot of barely concealed menace, strife and lies going on with this group and it was great reading it all unfurl. I have to admit Alicia sometimes annoyed me enough that I didn't feel for her but she was guilty of being willfully blind and she pays dearly by book's end.
Now to the not so great. There were a few things that I just didn't believe here and in a book with all kinds of over-the-top crazy, that's saying something. First, it's established that Alicia can have caffeine of no kind as it gives her migraines. She's very cautious about it and it makes for one of her initial faux pas when she arrives at the lodge complete with her feeling awkward and blushing and worrying. Ok. Fine. So when far later in the story she has a dessert of tiramisu and loves it, after describing the ingredients including coffee, I called shenanigans. In another food-related item, I didn't buy, matriarch Dawn has a whole kitchen full of food that's professionally pre-cooked that she passes off as her own (the entire family know this) and she's felled by a nut allergy after Alicia makes her heavenly red velvet cupcakes with secret ingredient almond flour. Epi-pens are deployed, much hay is made that Alicia was negligent and should have checked no one was allergic and that probably Alicia could have killed Dawn. Shenanigans again, I say! Alicia didn't bring the almond flour. Dawn had it stocked in her own kitchen! I have a shrimp allergy, I assure you, there is no shrimp or anything with shrimp derivative in my kitchen because... obviously not! I didn't buy the premise so that whole thread fell apart. Additionally, I had a hard time believing that when Dawn can't "cook" Christmas dinner, she has a whole fresh turkey and all the trimmings just hanging in the pantry for Yasmin to step in to whip up the perfectly made dinner cooked from scratch. Why would the queen of professionally pre-made even have all that?
This was a ride and I will read another by the author! By book's end, I
I read this through Kindle Unlimited.
Happy Hols!
December 25, 2022
This was advertised as a thriller, but I didn’t find it very thrilling. None of the characters were likable. I felt the ending was hurried. Just when it was time to start really figuring out who the murderer was, the killer tells us that he/she did it and how and why. The end. I was disappointed.
November 13, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Christmas Holiday is a deliciously executed murder who-done-it psychological thriller with fantastic twists and turns throughout. The book starts with the discovery of a murder and a suspects arrest and the book fails to let you put I'd down for thereon out. We follow Alicia who after years of being in love with Jack receives a proposal of marriage and has a whirlwind wedding. She's going to meet his family for the first time for Christmas at their remote lodge in the Irish mountains. My alarm bells were ringing from her arrival there and with how Jack has kept her from his family and taken so long to marry her in the first place. Jackson behaviour at the lodge raises even more alarm bells as he goes out of his way to keep his father happy, grows distant from Alicia and makes her feel unsettled and like she can't do right for wrong. Topped with secrets every character seems to have hanging in their closet, will Alicia survive and can she escape before it's too late. What a ride this book was. I loved how it unfolded and how layers were peeled back with suspense and anticipation as the book unfolded. Mikayla is now an author whos definitely high on my radar and I can't wait to read what she writes next!
The Christmas Holiday is a deliciously executed murder who-done-it psychological thriller with fantastic twists and turns throughout. The book starts with the discovery of a murder and a suspects arrest and the book fails to let you put I'd down for thereon out. We follow Alicia who after years of being in love with Jack receives a proposal of marriage and has a whirlwind wedding. She's going to meet his family for the first time for Christmas at their remote lodge in the Irish mountains. My alarm bells were ringing from her arrival there and with how Jack has kept her from his family and taken so long to marry her in the first place. Jackson behaviour at the lodge raises even more alarm bells as he goes out of his way to keep his father happy, grows distant from Alicia and makes her feel unsettled and like she can't do right for wrong. Topped with secrets every character seems to have hanging in their closet, will Alicia survive and can she escape before it's too late. What a ride this book was. I loved how it unfolded and how layers were peeled back with suspense and anticipation as the book unfolded. Mikayla is now an author whos definitely high on my radar and I can't wait to read what she writes next!
December 13, 2022
Nightmare Christmas Holiday with the In-Laws!
The perfect vacation or the perfect murder...
The Christmas Holiday by Mikayla Davids has been my most festive read this year. It’s a psychological thriller that isn’t meant to be cheery and bright, though. This is the story of a nightmare holiday visit with the in-laws!
This book opens with a dynamic prologue that sucks you in with the discovery of a dead body and the arrest of a suspect. Knowing this keeps you glued to the pages as the author slowly reveals the answers you’re craving. I already have another book by the author (The Christmas Party) downloaded on my Kindle!
After years of being in love with Jack, Alicia has managed to convince him he feels the same way and he proposes. Oh, Alicia…this was your first red flag! They have a quick wedding and now she’s finally meeting his family for the first time. Another red flag you blind girl! How long have you known this man and you’ve never met any of his family?
They are spending Christmas at the Silver family’s remote lodge in the Irish mountains. Even though Alicia is trying really hard, she can’t do anything right. And Jack isn’t his usual supportive self. He’s too busy trying to keep his father happy. So many red flags!! On top of all that, everyone seems to have secrets, even her usually charming husband.
Thank you to the author for this gifted book. All opinions are my own.
#TheChristmasHoliday #MikaylaDavids #ZooLoosBookTours #honestreview #bookreviewer #booktour #giftedbook
The perfect vacation or the perfect murder...
The Christmas Holiday by Mikayla Davids has been my most festive read this year. It’s a psychological thriller that isn’t meant to be cheery and bright, though. This is the story of a nightmare holiday visit with the in-laws!
This book opens with a dynamic prologue that sucks you in with the discovery of a dead body and the arrest of a suspect. Knowing this keeps you glued to the pages as the author slowly reveals the answers you’re craving. I already have another book by the author (The Christmas Party) downloaded on my Kindle!
After years of being in love with Jack, Alicia has managed to convince him he feels the same way and he proposes. Oh, Alicia…this was your first red flag! They have a quick wedding and now she’s finally meeting his family for the first time. Another red flag you blind girl! How long have you known this man and you’ve never met any of his family?
They are spending Christmas at the Silver family’s remote lodge in the Irish mountains. Even though Alicia is trying really hard, she can’t do anything right. And Jack isn’t his usual supportive self. He’s too busy trying to keep his father happy. So many red flags!! On top of all that, everyone seems to have secrets, even her usually charming husband.
Thank you to the author for this gifted book. All opinions are my own.
#TheChristmasHoliday #MikaylaDavids #ZooLoosBookTours #honestreview #bookreviewer #booktour #giftedbook
November 30, 2023
ehh...
December 6, 2023
2 words. Dog shite.
Genuinely can’t believe some people have rated this book so highly. It was utterly farcical from start to finish.
There’s a certain art to writing things in multi POVs, one of which is being able to pick the story back up without repeating exactly what’s just happened (with the same dialogue….give me strength) as the chapter before… something that Davids clearly paid no mind to.
ALSO - the cliffhangers were LAUGHABLE. Being suspicious that your sister in law has purposely left almonds in the holiday home they sometimes visit in order for you to use said almonds on a whim at Christmas and cause your mother in law to have an allergic reaction…. Sorry WHAT?! I could go on….Alicia’s reaction to the “family secret”, Jack’s drug issues… horrifically predictable and underwhelming.
The fact I reinstated my kindle unlimited subscription for this is also harrowing.
Genuinely can’t believe some people have rated this book so highly. It was utterly farcical from start to finish.
There’s a certain art to writing things in multi POVs, one of which is being able to pick the story back up without repeating exactly what’s just happened (with the same dialogue….give me strength) as the chapter before… something that Davids clearly paid no mind to.
ALSO - the cliffhangers were LAUGHABLE. Being suspicious that your sister in law has purposely left almonds in the holiday home they sometimes visit in order for you to use said almonds on a whim at Christmas and cause your mother in law to have an allergic reaction…. Sorry WHAT?! I could go on….Alicia’s reaction to the “family secret”, Jack’s drug issues… horrifically predictable and underwhelming.
The fact I reinstated my kindle unlimited subscription for this is also harrowing.
December 23, 2025
Looking for some holiday reading that packs a punch, I turned to this novel by Mikayla Davids. Having recently read a novella and psychological thriller series she’s written, I was eager to see how Davids spins another standalone holiday thriller, allowing me to compare it with some of the other stories I have read to fill my Christmas list. Alicia Silver is nervous. Newly married and spending her first Christmas with the in-laws in rural Ireland, Alicia is not sure what to expect. Her husband, Jack, has told her there is nothing worthy of worry, but Alicia cannot shake her nerves. Things start poorly, with Jack’s parents, as well as his brother, Ronan, and Ronan’s wife, Yasmin. It seems no one is quite as pleasant as Alicia would like. The Silvers have many secrets, which come out with each passing event over the holidays. When a body turns up, one of the group is dead and the authorities are sure that another is involved. It’s a matter of determining who’s who in this tense psychological thriller that has me excited to find more Mikayla Davids novels!
After finding a Christmas novella by Mikayla Davids, I added her to my list of authors worthy of further exploration, which led me to read a full series that I devoured in short order. Now into my fifth piece by her in almost as many days, I cannot get enough. The narrative builds effectively from the first page, creating confusion and tension as things unfold. There are definite layers to this mystery, both between members of the family and the dramatic events that occur. Davids creates a story that keeps the reader wondering from chapter to chapter, until all is revealed. Mikayla Davids' storytelling makes sure this piece flows well and uses a number of perspectives to really solidify that nothing is quite as predictable as one might hope. This has been her formula for success in past stories and it seems to work so well!
Characters evolve throughout the piece, as the chapters offer both a present and past perspective to happenings and the murder at the centre of it all. The various angles emerge through the eyes of many characters, allowing the reader to see a true backstory and proper development as they try to piece the truth together. As the story successfully takes a turn or two, the members of the Silver clan add a dark and sinister Christmas gift for the attentive reader. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and tension between characters, as it added a depth and flavouring Davids used to her advantage.
Surprises emerge from the outset, creating the perfect thriller that I have come to expect from Mikayla Davids. Layering family drama with current situations at the isolated Irish lodge put the reader on the defensive and open a sleuthing mind. Davids knows how to write, of that there was no doubt. She is also a master (mistress?) at developing twists that emerge at ideal moments. Nothing is as it seems and the reader must question everything, an ingredient in a stellar psychological thriller that has been present with all five Mikayla Davids pieces I have read lately. This was yet another stellar piece that was made better by the holiday theme!
Kudos, Madam Davids, for a gripping piece that was one of the great reading gifts I received this year!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
After finding a Christmas novella by Mikayla Davids, I added her to my list of authors worthy of further exploration, which led me to read a full series that I devoured in short order. Now into my fifth piece by her in almost as many days, I cannot get enough. The narrative builds effectively from the first page, creating confusion and tension as things unfold. There are definite layers to this mystery, both between members of the family and the dramatic events that occur. Davids creates a story that keeps the reader wondering from chapter to chapter, until all is revealed. Mikayla Davids' storytelling makes sure this piece flows well and uses a number of perspectives to really solidify that nothing is quite as predictable as one might hope. This has been her formula for success in past stories and it seems to work so well!
Characters evolve throughout the piece, as the chapters offer both a present and past perspective to happenings and the murder at the centre of it all. The various angles emerge through the eyes of many characters, allowing the reader to see a true backstory and proper development as they try to piece the truth together. As the story successfully takes a turn or two, the members of the Silver clan add a dark and sinister Christmas gift for the attentive reader. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and tension between characters, as it added a depth and flavouring Davids used to her advantage.
Surprises emerge from the outset, creating the perfect thriller that I have come to expect from Mikayla Davids. Layering family drama with current situations at the isolated Irish lodge put the reader on the defensive and open a sleuthing mind. Davids knows how to write, of that there was no doubt. She is also a master (mistress?) at developing twists that emerge at ideal moments. Nothing is as it seems and the reader must question everything, an ingredient in a stellar psychological thriller that has been present with all five Mikayla Davids pieces I have read lately. This was yet another stellar piece that was made better by the holiday theme!
Kudos, Madam Davids, for a gripping piece that was one of the great reading gifts I received this year!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com
December 4, 2023
Are you kidding me? 🤦🏼♀️ If I had been reading a physical book, I would have thrown it across the room after finishing it. Since I was reading on a kindle, nothing was thrown but damn, I’m mad.
The writing is decent, the story was good. I didn’t like any of the characters but I don’t necessarily have to for it to be a good book.
The book is told through three POV’s. Jack, his new wife Alicia and his sister-in-law Yasmin. Took me a bit to figure out all the players but I settled in about 1/4 way through and could keep everyone straight by then.
Jack’s family is gathered at the family “cabin” (mansion) to celebrate Christmas. Alicia is nervous and wants to make a good impression at her first family gathering but nothing is going her way. It’s cringeworthy and sad reading about her misfortunes in the book.
Along the way, family secrets come to light. This is definitely not one big happy family.
Anyway, all was going well until the last few chapters. Did the author just say “ah screw it, just gonna abruptly end right here” Because, I’m sorry, there is a difference between a cliffhanger and a big “WTF? Huh?” Blink. Blink.
Did I miss something, I wondered? Did your friends and family read your book before publishing and tell you this was a great ending? If so, don’t trust anything they say.
The ending ruined what could have been a decent book.
3 stars - one for each of the first three quarters of the book which i enjoyed.
The writing is decent, the story was good. I didn’t like any of the characters but I don’t necessarily have to for it to be a good book.
The book is told through three POV’s. Jack, his new wife Alicia and his sister-in-law Yasmin. Took me a bit to figure out all the players but I settled in about 1/4 way through and could keep everyone straight by then.
Jack’s family is gathered at the family “cabin” (mansion) to celebrate Christmas. Alicia is nervous and wants to make a good impression at her first family gathering but nothing is going her way. It’s cringeworthy and sad reading about her misfortunes in the book.
Along the way, family secrets come to light. This is definitely not one big happy family.
Anyway, all was going well until the last few chapters. Did the author just say “ah screw it, just gonna abruptly end right here” Because, I’m sorry, there is a difference between a cliffhanger and a big “WTF? Huh?” Blink. Blink.
Did I miss something, I wondered? Did your friends and family read your book before publishing and tell you this was a great ending? If so, don’t trust anything they say.
The ending ruined what could have been a decent book.
3 stars - one for each of the first three quarters of the book which i enjoyed.
December 10, 2023
too repetitive i should have DNFd but i wanted to see what this cRaAaAyYyYyYzZyYyYyYy twist was. it was dumb. the entire thing was dumb. i hated everyone. all dumb. two stars because i actually WAS intrigued at first
December 8, 2023
3.5⭐️
This was my first time reading anything from this author and I enjoyed it for the most part. It had all the elements that I LOVE in a popcorn thriller. It had multiple POVS, multiple suspects, it had me continuously guessing the suspect (I was wrong LOL) and the chapters all ended on a cliffhanger making me race through this to get to the end. The only gripe I have with this one was the ending. I’m not a fan of when the plot twists happens and guilty party is revealed it leaves me saying “really??”😒😒 because of the lack of true motive.
I love a good WTF kind of ending that leaves me staring at the wall. This was not that unfortunately, but I enjoyed the ride while it lasted. I’d still check out others from this author because I did enjoy the writing.
This was my first time reading anything from this author and I enjoyed it for the most part. It had all the elements that I LOVE in a popcorn thriller. It had multiple POVS, multiple suspects, it had me continuously guessing the suspect (I was wrong LOL) and the chapters all ended on a cliffhanger making me race through this to get to the end. The only gripe I have with this one was the ending. I’m not a fan of when the plot twists happens and guilty party is revealed it leaves me saying “really??”😒😒 because of the lack of true motive.
I love a good WTF kind of ending that leaves me staring at the wall. This was not that unfortunately, but I enjoyed the ride while it lasted. I’d still check out others from this author because I did enjoy the writing.
December 22, 2022
"I stumble forward, eager to get inside, to find warmth. But then I see something in the snow, just ahead of me. Something still and unmoving on the ground. But it's unmistakable. A body."
After enjoying The Christmas Party, I wanted to crack on with this one straight away. Unfortunately I found myself not enjoying it as much. It started off well, the individual stories of everyone kept me intrigued and I enjoyed the family dynamics when everyone were together. I have to say though, I really didn't like the ending. I really hope there is a sequel as it ended on a cliffhanger and there were so many unanswered questions.
After enjoying The Christmas Party, I wanted to crack on with this one straight away. Unfortunately I found myself not enjoying it as much. It started off well, the individual stories of everyone kept me intrigued and I enjoyed the family dynamics when everyone were together. I have to say though, I really didn't like the ending. I really hope there is a sequel as it ended on a cliffhanger and there were so many unanswered questions.
December 14, 2022
★★★ 3.5 stars
I've not read this author before but the premise sounded interesting enough to check it out. I have to say I loved the setting - a snow-covered lodge in the wilds of the Wicklow Mountains, cut off from everyone and everything. Even the WiFi and mobile phone signal goes down. It was completely atmospheric! Of course, you just know that things are bound to go wrong. And do they ever?
The tension is charged from the beginning as the story opens with an unnamed person finding a body in the snow and the police closing in. But whose is the body and who is the person found standing over it? Stay tuned because this family holiday will reveal all before the book's end.
We meet Alicia who, having just married the man of her dreams after years of on/off casual acquaintance, is on her way from their home in London to the secluded family lodge in the Irish mountains for Christmas. She is excited at the prospect of getting to know Jack's family and hopefully making them her own. She is an only child to older parents who have since died within a year of each other and to make matters worse, her best friend also died shortly after. So when Jack whisked her away to Paris and proposed, Alicia finally realised her dreams had become reality and that Jack loved her as she loved him.
And so here they are, making the long journey to Angelsey in Wales where they will ferry across to Dublin and make the final trek to the lodge in the mountains. Alicia couldn't be happier. Jack is handsome, outgoing, charismatic and apparently very very wealthy...and he is now hers. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course Jack's family is nothing if not flawed but Alicia is going to use this holiday to make her mark with them and hope that they will love and accept her into their family. Again...what could possibly go wrong?
At the head of the Silver family is the tyrannical patriarch Patrick who along with his second wife Dawn, is further comprised of Jack's younger brother Ronan, his wife Yasmin and their baby daughter Lily, with the addition of Dawn's stepdaughter Zara and of course Nuala the dog. Now I feel I must add here that nothing happens to Nuala beyond being locked outdoors once. I am, of course, happy about that. Nothing must ever happen to the dog. Ever.
But beneath the surface there's a sense of malevolence and, along with all the secrets and lies, something sinister is bubbling. And someone is going to pay with their life before the book's end while another will pay in an altogether different way in this twisted tale of revenge.
So the scene is set, the players have all arrived. Let the games begin.
I have to say, I really didn't know what to expect with this thriller. I had never heard of the author and therefore was unfamiliar with her style. Pretty much all of the characters were unlikeable, except Nuala of course. You can always count on the dog to be the most endearing character of all. Patrick was on a complete power trip, Yasmin was a bitch with designs on the family fortune, Ronan was merely her puppet, Jack was a selfish prat, Alicia was a blind fool who spent most of the time blushing or making some mistake, Dawn was over the top in just about every way possibly and Zara was simply moody and made no secret of her dislike at being there. Lily was too young to make much of an impact, although when she kept making a beeline for the Christmas tree and smashing a precious bauble that left Dawn in tears had me shaking my head. Why place such precious items within a child's reach?
There were of course a few flaws within the plot that didn't gel with the rest of the story. I mean, Alicia is pretty much allergic to caffeine, right? That is, she can't have any caffeine lest she take to her bed with severe migraines. So then why, when Yasmin serves up a Tiramisu for dessert (on purpose I felt), does Alicia gush over how much she loved the said dessert despite knowing and listing it's main ingredient as coffee? Another flaw is when she decides, quite randomly, to whip up her special red velvet cupcakes that everyone simply adored. Why she felt she had to is quite beyond me as if I was visiting with barely-known in-laws I certainly wouldn't be taking over their kitchen for whatever reason. It just felt like it was randomly inserted. And then it appears she has a secret ingredient - almond flour. But no one had alerted her to a nut allergy, even though Yasmin had looked over the ingredients earlier citing they were fine, so of course Alicia was deemed negligent for not checking. But added to that, the almond flour came from Dawn's own kitchen and having a nut allergy why would she even stock it?
Aside from all that, THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY is a tension-filled thriller that is something of a slow burn to begin with that gradually builds and the whole event is then over and done with in a matter of chapters. It seemed that the focus was on the dysfunctional family dynamics and secret jealousies that the body found in the snow in the beginning doesn't even make it into the storyline until nearer the end, with the lack of investigation undertaken in the following chapters until the final twist at the end. And what a twist it was! For that alone, my rating of this read has gone up a star, for on the whole the rest of the book was fairly average at 2 stars but I've added a third for that brilliant ending that not even I saw coming!
Overall, THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY is perfect for fans of slow burn thrillers who relish the gradual build of tension with the final unravelling of twists a dizzying prospect that leaves you with your head between your knees until the feeling passes. An interesting read with the best part being the atmospheric setting.
I would like to thank #MikaylaDavids and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheChristmasHoliday in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I've not read this author before but the premise sounded interesting enough to check it out. I have to say I loved the setting - a snow-covered lodge in the wilds of the Wicklow Mountains, cut off from everyone and everything. Even the WiFi and mobile phone signal goes down. It was completely atmospheric! Of course, you just know that things are bound to go wrong. And do they ever?
The tension is charged from the beginning as the story opens with an unnamed person finding a body in the snow and the police closing in. But whose is the body and who is the person found standing over it? Stay tuned because this family holiday will reveal all before the book's end.
We meet Alicia who, having just married the man of her dreams after years of on/off casual acquaintance, is on her way from their home in London to the secluded family lodge in the Irish mountains for Christmas. She is excited at the prospect of getting to know Jack's family and hopefully making them her own. She is an only child to older parents who have since died within a year of each other and to make matters worse, her best friend also died shortly after. So when Jack whisked her away to Paris and proposed, Alicia finally realised her dreams had become reality and that Jack loved her as she loved him.
And so here they are, making the long journey to Angelsey in Wales where they will ferry across to Dublin and make the final trek to the lodge in the mountains. Alicia couldn't be happier. Jack is handsome, outgoing, charismatic and apparently very very wealthy...and he is now hers. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course Jack's family is nothing if not flawed but Alicia is going to use this holiday to make her mark with them and hope that they will love and accept her into their family. Again...what could possibly go wrong?
At the head of the Silver family is the tyrannical patriarch Patrick who along with his second wife Dawn, is further comprised of Jack's younger brother Ronan, his wife Yasmin and their baby daughter Lily, with the addition of Dawn's stepdaughter Zara and of course Nuala the dog. Now I feel I must add here that nothing happens to Nuala beyond being locked outdoors once. I am, of course, happy about that. Nothing must ever happen to the dog. Ever.
But beneath the surface there's a sense of malevolence and, along with all the secrets and lies, something sinister is bubbling. And someone is going to pay with their life before the book's end while another will pay in an altogether different way in this twisted tale of revenge.
So the scene is set, the players have all arrived. Let the games begin.
I have to say, I really didn't know what to expect with this thriller. I had never heard of the author and therefore was unfamiliar with her style. Pretty much all of the characters were unlikeable, except Nuala of course. You can always count on the dog to be the most endearing character of all. Patrick was on a complete power trip, Yasmin was a bitch with designs on the family fortune, Ronan was merely her puppet, Jack was a selfish prat, Alicia was a blind fool who spent most of the time blushing or making some mistake, Dawn was over the top in just about every way possibly and Zara was simply moody and made no secret of her dislike at being there. Lily was too young to make much of an impact, although when she kept making a beeline for the Christmas tree and smashing a precious bauble that left Dawn in tears had me shaking my head. Why place such precious items within a child's reach?
There were of course a few flaws within the plot that didn't gel with the rest of the story. I mean, Alicia is pretty much allergic to caffeine, right? That is, she can't have any caffeine lest she take to her bed with severe migraines. So then why, when Yasmin serves up a Tiramisu for dessert (on purpose I felt), does Alicia gush over how much she loved the said dessert despite knowing and listing it's main ingredient as coffee? Another flaw is when she decides, quite randomly, to whip up her special red velvet cupcakes that everyone simply adored. Why she felt she had to is quite beyond me as if I was visiting with barely-known in-laws I certainly wouldn't be taking over their kitchen for whatever reason. It just felt like it was randomly inserted. And then it appears she has a secret ingredient - almond flour. But no one had alerted her to a nut allergy, even though Yasmin had looked over the ingredients earlier citing they were fine, so of course Alicia was deemed negligent for not checking. But added to that, the almond flour came from Dawn's own kitchen and having a nut allergy why would she even stock it?
Aside from all that, THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY is a tension-filled thriller that is something of a slow burn to begin with that gradually builds and the whole event is then over and done with in a matter of chapters. It seemed that the focus was on the dysfunctional family dynamics and secret jealousies that the body found in the snow in the beginning doesn't even make it into the storyline until nearer the end, with the lack of investigation undertaken in the following chapters until the final twist at the end. And what a twist it was! For that alone, my rating of this read has gone up a star, for on the whole the rest of the book was fairly average at 2 stars but I've added a third for that brilliant ending that not even I saw coming!
Overall, THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY is perfect for fans of slow burn thrillers who relish the gradual build of tension with the final unravelling of twists a dizzying prospect that leaves you with your head between your knees until the feeling passes. An interesting read with the best part being the atmospheric setting.
I would like to thank #MikaylaDavids and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheChristmasHoliday in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 24, 2025
Although I’m not usually a seasonal reader, I switched it up this year. Alicia is smitten with her new husband, Jack, both excited and anxious about spending Christmas with Jack’s dynamic family. Chapters told from the point of view of Alicia, Jack, sister in law Yasmin. Early on we know there is someone in the snow and someone arrested but knowing who they are takes time. I greatly enjoyed most of the book. There were times when I felt it was repetitive and other times contrived. However, still a solid read so I would recommend.
November 15, 2024
3.5 ⭐️'s. a murder mystery, taking place on christmas with a TON of rich people drama where I hated every single character, is my kind of book 😂 the only reason I'm not rating this higher is because there could only be so many suspects so it wasn't really surprising when they were revealed. overall though, a fun christmas thriller if you don't only want to read christmas romances
December 6, 2023
Awful and stupid characters and I didn't feel like the story was very interesting except for the setting. The setting in the Irish mountains was awesome. It got good at the end but...that was unfortunately only until the end. Loved that the author chose to keep this book on the short end at 250 pgs
December 29, 2022
Another amazing five-star read from Mikayla Davids. I recently read her previous book, The Holiday Party, and it blew me away. The Christmas Holiday was just as incredible and twisty. Talk about being newlyweds and spending your first Christmas with your husband's family. Absolutely no pressure. Alicia Silver is definitely feeling the pressure.
I love it when the story starts at the end and you are given all the characters' perspectives on what truly happened. When Alicia arrives at her husband's remote lodge in the Irish mountains, she tries her hardest to impress everyone, but something definitely feels off about the Silver family. Unfortunately, before the festivities are over, something terrible will happen in the dead of winter. I absolutely love Mikayla's writing. She is so good at writing unpredictable points of view and surprising you with amazing twists and turns. If you are looking for a Christmas thriller full of surprises and an impressive snowy setting, this is the book to add to your to be read pile.
I love it when the story starts at the end and you are given all the characters' perspectives on what truly happened. When Alicia arrives at her husband's remote lodge in the Irish mountains, she tries her hardest to impress everyone, but something definitely feels off about the Silver family. Unfortunately, before the festivities are over, something terrible will happen in the dead of winter. I absolutely love Mikayla's writing. She is so good at writing unpredictable points of view and surprising you with amazing twists and turns. If you are looking for a Christmas thriller full of surprises and an impressive snowy setting, this is the book to add to your to be read pile.
December 2, 2024
I read this for a bookclub and it is honestly one of the worst “thrillers” I’ve ever read. The writing was very tell, not show. Every single chapter, absolutely nothing would happen and then the last line would be something “dramatic” like “everything is perfect but I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong”.
January 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. Fasted paced for me.
December 11, 2023
Honestly this book was poorly written and the entire plot line didn’t happen until 80% of the way through the book. This book could have been written in about 50 pages in all honesty.
November 17, 2023
honest review:
This is an epic Thriller! All the way through I was guessing and sussing everyone! Even the dog at one point hahah..
The lovely author Mikayla has written the storyline so smoothly that you never get bored or even lose where you are and what's happening, apart from whodunnit! Because it genuinely could have been anyone there!
I really enjoyed all the characters as they felt real and believable.
Without giving it away, I'd live to know what the 'killer' will do if they ever get out..?? Would they try and find justice or revenge? How did they cope on the inside and how much did it change them.. So basically will their be a another book to this story?
This is an epic Thriller! All the way through I was guessing and sussing everyone! Even the dog at one point hahah..
The lovely author Mikayla has written the storyline so smoothly that you never get bored or even lose where you are and what's happening, apart from whodunnit! Because it genuinely could have been anyone there!
I really enjoyed all the characters as they felt real and believable.
Without giving it away, I'd live to know what the 'killer' will do if they ever get out..?? Would they try and find justice or revenge? How did they cope on the inside and how much did it change them.. So basically will their be a another book to this story?
December 11, 2025
Just fine 😂 wanted a festive read that wasn’t a romance and I guess this ticked that box?
Writing didn’t really hook me in, but does the job if you want a quick read. Thought we would have more time around the mystery the murder - but it felt sudden and rushed at the end and wasn’t very satisfying.
It felt like at times the author just threw in random background information about the characters when the plot started to slow down, which just made me roll my eyes at times.
Descriptive enough so you could envision the Irish mountains and the picturesque lodge - but god all these characters are insufferable 🤣
An alright read, nothing groundbreaking but festive read done! ✔️
⭐️⭐️
Writing didn’t really hook me in, but does the job if you want a quick read. Thought we would have more time around the mystery the murder - but it felt sudden and rushed at the end and wasn’t very satisfying.
It felt like at times the author just threw in random background information about the characters when the plot started to slow down, which just made me roll my eyes at times.
Descriptive enough so you could envision the Irish mountains and the picturesque lodge - but god all these characters are insufferable 🤣
An alright read, nothing groundbreaking but festive read done! ✔️
⭐️⭐️
December 15, 2023
This was a good Christmas thriller, different from your typical Christmas romance. I liked the different chapter point of views between Alicia, Jack, and Yasmin. It was cool to see other people’s thoughts. I hated Jack, like the thought of marrying someone and being so in love like Alicia but then having your husband not feel the same and only using you is disgusting. I also didn’t really like Yasmin she seemed like a bitch lol. I didn’t see the killer being Zara but I did spoil it accidentally for myself before I got there lol. Overall I liked the storyline and I’m glad Zara got caught.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2024
Never read a book by this author before… mikayla David’s . The Christmas holiday , what a great read , definitely recommend it ….
November 27, 2024
If it wasn’t written pre- ChatGPT I would have thought parts of it were written by AI. Very simple writing. Some parts felt forced on what was UK and Ireland. Didn’t always make sense. Stuff was repeated that didn’t need to be. Very predictable. Unlikable characters. I think the plot had potential but the writing let it down. I chose this for our Xmas thriller book club pick. I’m interested to see what the others think. So many things didn’t make sense. I don’t want to give spoilers for this review so I won’t say but another reviewer brought up the allergies and some other stuff that I completely agree with. Some stuff just went way over the top to make sense in this instance.
December 18, 2022
Title: The Christmas Holiday
Author: Mikayla Davids
Pages: 267
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Newly married Alicia and Jack silver are going to spend Christmas vacation with Alicia’s in laws at their remote lodge in the Irish mountains. Alicia has high hopes that she can fit in with the wealthy Silver family and that she can live up to their high expectations for her marriage to Jack. As the Christmas celebrations get into full swing, Alicia soon discovers, that the Silver family may look perfect, but they have plenty of secrets, and before the holiday is over, at least one of them will soon be dead. The question is who will kill to protect theirs? The Stepmother, the sister-in-law, the Husband, the father-in-law or the new wife?
Review:
The eye catching front cover screamed out to me psychological thriller… my favourite genre! The fact that this was a Christmas read too really was the perfect combination for the countdown to Christmas, I was really excited to get stuck into this one, especially after reading the description, I couldn’t wait to find out what the shocking twist would be.
The first thing I loved about this book was the setting, I adore Ireland and Wicklow in particular so this really did help me to connect with the book instantly. Once I began, it didn’t take me long before I began to question the motives of the characters, I could feel the twists and turns building and I really wanted to know what Yasmin’s problem was, she had me intrigued.
The story is told from different perspectives, these perspectives were clear and easy to follow, and I enjoyed being in all their heads. The different perspectives also helped with the build-up. I liked that I had no idea of who I could trust and after reading a few chapters, everyone was kept at arms length.
I could really picture the authors vivid description, she was able to create clear imagery in my head, it felt like I was an outsider looking in. Once I started this book, I really did struggle to put it back down. I could feel the suspense rising and found it had me feeling tense at times. However, despite the building tensions, the book also had me feeling quite festive at times, so very cleverly done by the author.
I liked how the author kept dripping us information, she was able to keep me on my toes, she kept me hooked and I couldn’t wait to get to the climax! I loved all the twists and turns in this read and that at times I genuinely couldn’t call what would happen. The book was fast paced and I soon flew through it and it was full of secrets and hidden agendas, a perfect psychological thriller!
Author: Mikayla Davids
Pages: 267
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Newly married Alicia and Jack silver are going to spend Christmas vacation with Alicia’s in laws at their remote lodge in the Irish mountains. Alicia has high hopes that she can fit in with the wealthy Silver family and that she can live up to their high expectations for her marriage to Jack. As the Christmas celebrations get into full swing, Alicia soon discovers, that the Silver family may look perfect, but they have plenty of secrets, and before the holiday is over, at least one of them will soon be dead. The question is who will kill to protect theirs? The Stepmother, the sister-in-law, the Husband, the father-in-law or the new wife?
Review:
The eye catching front cover screamed out to me psychological thriller… my favourite genre! The fact that this was a Christmas read too really was the perfect combination for the countdown to Christmas, I was really excited to get stuck into this one, especially after reading the description, I couldn’t wait to find out what the shocking twist would be.
The first thing I loved about this book was the setting, I adore Ireland and Wicklow in particular so this really did help me to connect with the book instantly. Once I began, it didn’t take me long before I began to question the motives of the characters, I could feel the twists and turns building and I really wanted to know what Yasmin’s problem was, she had me intrigued.
The story is told from different perspectives, these perspectives were clear and easy to follow, and I enjoyed being in all their heads. The different perspectives also helped with the build-up. I liked that I had no idea of who I could trust and after reading a few chapters, everyone was kept at arms length.
I could really picture the authors vivid description, she was able to create clear imagery in my head, it felt like I was an outsider looking in. Once I started this book, I really did struggle to put it back down. I could feel the suspense rising and found it had me feeling tense at times. However, despite the building tensions, the book also had me feeling quite festive at times, so very cleverly done by the author.
I liked how the author kept dripping us information, she was able to keep me on my toes, she kept me hooked and I couldn’t wait to get to the climax! I loved all the twists and turns in this read and that at times I genuinely couldn’t call what would happen. The book was fast paced and I soon flew through it and it was full of secrets and hidden agendas, a perfect psychological thriller!
December 28, 2024
Don't bother
Don't bother, 200 pages in before anything actually happened, then just rushed the end. This book could have been a short story of 50 pages. Very disappointing 😞
Don't bother, 200 pages in before anything actually happened, then just rushed the end. This book could have been a short story of 50 pages. Very disappointing 😞
December 12, 2022
How could a stay in a luxury lodge in the beautiful Wicklow Hills go so awfully wrong. As soon as the snow started falling and access to the Internet is lost we know that something terrible is going to happen and we know from the first chapter that someone is going to be murdered. Who gets murdered and who is the murderer is what we need to know.
Poor Alicia facing her new in laws for Christmas cannot seem to do anything right. The story is told by the various protagonists and this worked really well putting us in their mindset. And what a horrible bunch they are. Everyone seems to have a grudge and a secret. Nothing is as it seems in the Silver family and I kept turning the pages to find out whether Alicia would survive this Christmas holiday.
The end, when it came, revealing the culprit, is a shock but the whole ending is a shock. I needed an extra chapter to tie up the loose ends or preferably a whole book, which would be wonderful.
Poor Alicia facing her new in laws for Christmas cannot seem to do anything right. The story is told by the various protagonists and this worked really well putting us in their mindset. And what a horrible bunch they are. Everyone seems to have a grudge and a secret. Nothing is as it seems in the Silver family and I kept turning the pages to find out whether Alicia would survive this Christmas holiday.
The end, when it came, revealing the culprit, is a shock but the whole ending is a shock. I needed an extra chapter to tie up the loose ends or preferably a whole book, which would be wonderful.
December 3, 2022
This book had me literally biting my nails as I was reading!
The tension is absolutely visceral from the very beginning, where an unnamed character finds a body in the snow, with the police already closing in. The action then flashes back to a short time prior, with the Silver family getting together to celebrate Christmas in a remote lodge in the mountains in Ireland.
Mikayla Davids writes fraught family relationships very well, and I love how we get to see events from different perspectives. I also love how everyone has their own secrets and their own agenda, and how slowly and teasingly these get revealed.
I strongly recommend this book for thriller lovers, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one from this author.
The tension is absolutely visceral from the very beginning, where an unnamed character finds a body in the snow, with the police already closing in. The action then flashes back to a short time prior, with the Silver family getting together to celebrate Christmas in a remote lodge in the mountains in Ireland.
Mikayla Davids writes fraught family relationships very well, and I love how we get to see events from different perspectives. I also love how everyone has their own secrets and their own agenda, and how slowly and teasingly these get revealed.
I strongly recommend this book for thriller lovers, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one from this author.
December 11, 2022
I loved the tension that this created as soon as Alicia meets Jack's family. The various point of views in the book always reveals a breadcrumb of something new which leaves you hanging on every word and desperate to know more.
The killer chapters are brilliant, and I was keen to play detective in those chapters to suss it all out.
I did guess the killer and was a little bit disappointed with the open-ended ness of the final couple chapters but up until that point it was a gripping and solid read.
The killer chapters are brilliant, and I was keen to play detective in those chapters to suss it all out.
I did guess the killer and was a little bit disappointed with the open-ended ness of the final couple chapters but up until that point it was a gripping and solid read.
December 11, 2022
An annual holiday gathering turns deadly. The Silver’s are not the perfect family. Everyone has secrets and while they seem to get along on the outside family tensions run wild. The characters do a lot of foreshadowing with their secrets. As a reader you know things are not right. The chapters are told from different POV so you have more insight into the characters. This is a quick and satisfying read!
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