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Our Perfect Holiday
It was the perfect trip, until it ended in murder…
I stand on the balcony with my gorgeous husband, Reuben, by my side. My family have returned to this beautiful French hotel to celebrate my mother’s seventieth birthday. The sun is shining and everything seems perfect. It’s paradise but I feel like I’m trapped…
Because twenty years ago someone was killed in the glittering swimming pool.
I watch as my children run around excitedly, my parents sip cocktails, and my brother throws his head back as he laughs. But a shiver runs down my spine because I know what really happened all those years ago.
I have to smile and lie to my family because of the secrets I’m keeping. Then I receive a text message, and the words turn my heart to ice:
You should never have come back here…
I can’t sleep and I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. And then one night as Reuben and I stroll in the hotel grounds, I see a woman’s lifeless body in the pool. My mouth opens in a silent scream. It’s happening all over again.
Are my precious family now in danger too?
From the number one bestselling author Daniel Hurst, Our Perfect Holiday is an absolutely addictive ‘just one more page’ psychological thriller that will have you questioning everything until you reach the final, jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, T M Logan and Lisa Jewell.
I stand on the balcony with my gorgeous husband, Reuben, by my side. My family have returned to this beautiful French hotel to celebrate my mother’s seventieth birthday. The sun is shining and everything seems perfect. It’s paradise but I feel like I’m trapped…
Because twenty years ago someone was killed in the glittering swimming pool.
I watch as my children run around excitedly, my parents sip cocktails, and my brother throws his head back as he laughs. But a shiver runs down my spine because I know what really happened all those years ago.
I have to smile and lie to my family because of the secrets I’m keeping. Then I receive a text message, and the words turn my heart to ice:
You should never have come back here…
I can’t sleep and I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. And then one night as Reuben and I stroll in the hotel grounds, I see a woman’s lifeless body in the pool. My mouth opens in a silent scream. It’s happening all over again.
Are my precious family now in danger too?
From the number one bestselling author Daniel Hurst, Our Perfect Holiday is an absolutely addictive ‘just one more page’ psychological thriller that will have you questioning everything until you reach the final, jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, T M Logan and Lisa Jewell.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2026
About the author
Daniel Hurst
112 books4,738 followersDaniel Hurst is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of fast paced psychological thrillers. His most popular titles include Til Death Do Us Part, The Passenger and The Doctor's Wife, the latter title reaching #1 on the Amazon UK Kindle store in February 2023. A regular KDP Select All Star since he became a full-time author in 2021, Daniel prides himself on writing fast, releasing stories often and engaging with his readers.
You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'
You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
June 24, 2026
➡️ I AM TAKING A SURVEY.....
Did Daniel Hurst really write this book?
Or has this prolific author written so many books that he FINALLY ran out of material?
➡️ This "Perfect" book was anything but perfect!
Pacing was off, and repetitive text was plentiful.
How many times did listeners have to be told that someone was killed in a glittering swimming pool twenty years ago???
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Melanie Crawley and Matthew Biddulph.
Narration was good but not great.
➡️ Unlike many of Hurst's other titles, this book was not available in Hoopla or Libby, so I had to use one of my coveted Audible credits.
😭😭😭😭😭
I will be requesting a credit from Audible.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
PUBLISH DATE: June 19, 2026
Our Perfect Holiday by Daniel Hurst.
This book was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. At some point, I questioned the guilt of almost everyone in the story. It was one of those books where every time I thought I had things figured out, another piece of information made me reconsider.
This was a quick, easy read that I finished in about a day. For me, the story really picked up around the 40% mark, and from there I was much more invested in finding out what had happened and who was telling the truth.
I like the characters overall, and there wasn't really anyone I outright hated (until the end). Daniel Hurst did a good job of revealing clues while still holding back enough information to keep the mystery going. The pacing felt balanced, and I appreciated that the story unfolded gradually rather than one shock value moment.
The book does use a dual timeline, and at times I found it a little difficult to keep up with because the timelines were so similar in places. There were moments I had to stop and remind myself which time period I was reading. That confusion didn't take away from the story, but it did occasionally pull me out of it.
Overall this was an entertaining psychological thriller with plenty of twists, a fast pace, and enough surprises to keep me turning the pages.
***When I received this ARC the title was "I Shouldn't Have Come Here" and the title was later changed to "Our Perfect Holiday***
PUBLISH DATE: June 19, 2026
BOOK TITLE: "Our Perfect Holiday" by Daniel Hurst
Publish Date: June 19, 2026
AUTHOR: Daniel Hurst
PUBLISHER: Bookoture
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 323
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Our Perfect Holiday by Daniel Hurst.
This book was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. At some point, I questioned the guilt of almost everyone in the story. It was one of those books where every time I thought I had things figured out, another piece of information made me reconsider.
This was a quick, easy read that I finished in about a day. For me, the story really picked up around the 40% mark, and from there I was much more invested in finding out what had happened and who was telling the truth.
I like the characters overall, and there wasn't really anyone I outright hated (until the end). Daniel Hurst did a good job of revealing clues while still holding back enough information to keep the mystery going. The pacing felt balanced, and I appreciated that the story unfolded gradually rather than one shock value moment.
The book does use a dual timeline, and at times I found it a little difficult to keep up with because the timelines were so similar in places. There were moments I had to stop and remind myself which time period I was reading. That confusion didn't take away from the story, but it did occasionally pull me out of it.
Overall this was an entertaining psychological thriller with plenty of twists, a fast pace, and enough surprises to keep me turning the pages.
***When I received this ARC the title was "I Shouldn't Have Come Here" and the title was later changed to "Our Perfect Holiday***
PUBLISH DATE: June 19, 2026
BOOK TITLE: "Our Perfect Holiday" by Daniel Hurst
Publish Date: June 19, 2026
AUTHOR: Daniel Hurst
PUBLISHER: Bookoture
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 323
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 26, 2026
Really enjoyed this one! It was brilliantly fast paced and addictive, and it was the perfect summer thriller with it being so easy to read.
The story was easy to follow with a dual timeline, revolving around a murder that takes place in a swimming pool. I loved that there were characters you couldn’t trust at all, they were all keeping secrets!
Whilst the twists weren’t massively jaw-dropping, they were still good twists that caught me off guard - especially the epilogue! 😮
Can definitely recommend this one!
The story was easy to follow with a dual timeline, revolving around a murder that takes place in a swimming pool. I loved that there were characters you couldn’t trust at all, they were all keeping secrets!
Whilst the twists weren’t massively jaw-dropping, they were still good twists that caught me off guard - especially the epilogue! 😮
Can definitely recommend this one!
May 24, 2026
I Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Daniel Hurst was an INSTANT pick for me the second I saw it announced because anything this author releases automatically goes onto my TBR! First of all, can we talk about this cover for a second?! It is gorgeous and I am absolutely LOVING the summer colors.
Twenty years ago, something terrible happened during Cassie’s family vacation in France. Now her parents’ seventieth birthday celebration is bringing everyone back to the very same hotel where it all happened... the same place that still haunts her years later. But before they even arrive, Cassie starts receiving unsettling messages from an unknown number. SOMEONE knows what really happened all those years ago and seems determined to remind her of it. But who knows the truth... and what are they planning?
As always, I tore through this entire book in ONE sitting and OMG my head was spinning from all of the twists! I felt like I was on a roll picking up clues as the mystery slowly unraveled and really thought I had things figured out... only to STILL end up completely stunned by the ending!
Daniel Hurst did it again because this was another 5 star read for me! A HUGE thank you goes out to Bookouture via NetGalley for the advance reader copy!
Twenty years ago, something terrible happened during Cassie’s family vacation in France. Now her parents’ seventieth birthday celebration is bringing everyone back to the very same hotel where it all happened... the same place that still haunts her years later. But before they even arrive, Cassie starts receiving unsettling messages from an unknown number. SOMEONE knows what really happened all those years ago and seems determined to remind her of it. But who knows the truth... and what are they planning?
As always, I tore through this entire book in ONE sitting and OMG my head was spinning from all of the twists! I felt like I was on a roll picking up clues as the mystery slowly unraveled and really thought I had things figured out... only to STILL end up completely stunned by the ending!
Daniel Hurst did it again because this was another 5 star read for me! A HUGE thank you goes out to Bookouture via NetGalley for the advance reader copy!
June 21, 2026
Our Perfect Holiday is another brilliant offering from Daniel Hurst, an author whose style is instantly recognisable yet never repetitive. Having read a number of his novels, I’m consistently impressed by how imaginative and inventive his plots are, each one twisty in its own unique way, keeping you guessing right until the end.
This story follows grown-up siblings Judd and Cassie as they reunite for their first family holiday together in nearly twenty years, joined by their elderly parents and Cassie’s best friend. Cassie, who has a partner and two children, is reluctant from the start to go on this trip, doing everything she can to avoid it, though ultimately she has no choice but to join. Her hesitation is rooted in significant trauma from the family’s last holiday to this same French resort two decades earlier, a wound that clearly still runs deep.
Told across two timelines, past and present, the novel gradually reveals just how much these characters don’t know about one another and how much unresolved history is quietly shaping the present. Without giving anything away, both timelines are gripping in their own right, and the way they intersect is genuinely satisfying.
Once again, Hurst delivers an easy, enjoyable read that didn’t disappoint. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.
June 3, 2026
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of Our Perfect Holiday
This was my first Daniel Hurst book and honestly I had a really good time with it. The plot twists kept catching me off guard and it was one of those books where I kept saying "just one more chapter" and suddenly I'd read another 100 pages. The only thing that stopped this from being a 5 star read for me was some of the characters. Cassie and Frankie genuinely annoyed me at times and some of their decisions had me sitting there like ??? because they just felt so dumb. Even so, I was still invested in the story and needed to know how it was all going to end. Overall, this was a fast-paced, addictive thriller that was super easy to fly through. If you love books with lots of twists and drama, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.
This was my first Daniel Hurst book and honestly I had a really good time with it. The plot twists kept catching me off guard and it was one of those books where I kept saying "just one more chapter" and suddenly I'd read another 100 pages. The only thing that stopped this from being a 5 star read for me was some of the characters. Cassie and Frankie genuinely annoyed me at times and some of their decisions had me sitting there like ??? because they just felt so dumb. Even so, I was still invested in the story and needed to know how it was all going to end. Overall, this was a fast-paced, addictive thriller that was super easy to fly through. If you love books with lots of twists and drama, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.
June 6, 2026
I don’t know how this author does it! Hurts is always at the top of my list for go to authors when I am in a slump! So addicted! Every story is so unique and so enthralling, I get so immersed in each character and it just blows my mind how much each book is so enveloping! I will never stop with this author.
This story is about a brother and sister who are on vacation with their parents and another hotel guest dies in the pool. While feeling like they were the cause of the incident.
Fast forward 20 years, their parents want to go to their anniversary to the same hotel!
This book was such a great change to the reading slump I was in!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture!
This story is about a brother and sister who are on vacation with their parents and another hotel guest dies in the pool. While feeling like they were the cause of the incident.
Fast forward 20 years, their parents want to go to their anniversary to the same hotel!
This book was such a great change to the reading slump I was in!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture!
June 22, 2026
Daniel Hurst is becoming an auto-read author for me! I flew through this book in just a few sittings. Family secrets? CHECK. Creepy Messages? CHECK. A vacation that goes horribly wrong? ABSOULTELY. I kept changing my theory every few chapters, and that ending had me staring at the wall for a minute. If you love Freida McFadden or even Lisa Jewell-style thrillers that are impossible to put down, add this one to your list! Thank you for trusting me with ARC of this novel. I hope I can do more! :)
June 22, 2026
A real whodunit! Everyone seemed to be guilty. The ending was unexpected. I find I did skim over chunks of the book as it was a bit repetitive. But I never guessed the ending at all. 3 🌟’s.
July 15, 2026
Didn’t expect the ending!!! Was such a quick read
May 31, 2026
3.5-4⭐️
Thank you netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
I really enjoy how Daniel Hurst writes. It’s so engaging, entertaining, twisty and easy to read. I love the short chapters that leave little cliffhangers; it makes it really hard to put the book down.
Of all of his books I’ve read, this was probably the most predictable but still had areas you didn’t see coming. It was a quick, fun, and captivating read. The book really picked up from about 45-50%. The beginning was a good set up but a little repetitive. Some of the middle fell a little flat for me and felt like some filler. The ending had me saying “ahhh I knew it!!!”
I would recommend this one and any other Daniel Hurst book for a fun twisty read!
Thank you netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
I really enjoy how Daniel Hurst writes. It’s so engaging, entertaining, twisty and easy to read. I love the short chapters that leave little cliffhangers; it makes it really hard to put the book down.
Of all of his books I’ve read, this was probably the most predictable but still had areas you didn’t see coming. It was a quick, fun, and captivating read. The book really picked up from about 45-50%. The beginning was a good set up but a little repetitive. Some of the middle fell a little flat for me and felt like some filler. The ending had me saying “ahhh I knew it!!!”
I would recommend this one and any other Daniel Hurst book for a fun twisty read!
June 20, 2026
A dead body floating facedown in a luxury resort pool is the ultimate nightmare. For Cassie, it’s a nightmare she lived through once before.
Years ago on her 16th birthday, her family vacation to the Ocean Royal Palace in France was completely shattered when a hotel guest drowned. The trauma from that day left her with severe panic attacks.
Now, twenty years later, her parents are celebrating their 70th birthday and insist on an all-expenses-paid return to the exact same French resort. Because they are footing the bill, Cassie just can't refuse.
She travels to the resort with her husband Reuben, her six-year-old twins, her brother Judd, and their lifelong family friend Frankie. On the outside, they look like a typical, happy British family abroad. But beneath the surface, Cassie is absolutely drowning in dread.
The story shifts between the past and the present, showing how the mistakes of that long-ago trip still haunt them, and dark secrets have been waiting for their return.
Daniel Hurst’s Our Perfect Holiday is anything but perfect for this family! It’s a slow burn and picks up pace in the second half, building up the tension through to the end.
Even though I predicted some parts, I eagerly turned the pages to see if I was right. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a suspenseful, simmering domestic thriller with clever surprises!
*I received an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley. the opinions expressed are my own.*
Years ago on her 16th birthday, her family vacation to the Ocean Royal Palace in France was completely shattered when a hotel guest drowned. The trauma from that day left her with severe panic attacks.
Now, twenty years later, her parents are celebrating their 70th birthday and insist on an all-expenses-paid return to the exact same French resort. Because they are footing the bill, Cassie just can't refuse.
She travels to the resort with her husband Reuben, her six-year-old twins, her brother Judd, and their lifelong family friend Frankie. On the outside, they look like a typical, happy British family abroad. But beneath the surface, Cassie is absolutely drowning in dread.
The story shifts between the past and the present, showing how the mistakes of that long-ago trip still haunt them, and dark secrets have been waiting for their return.
Daniel Hurst’s Our Perfect Holiday is anything but perfect for this family! It’s a slow burn and picks up pace in the second half, building up the tension through to the end.
Even though I predicted some parts, I eagerly turned the pages to see if I was right. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a suspenseful, simmering domestic thriller with clever surprises!
*I received an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley. the opinions expressed are my own.*
June 20, 2026
Imagine going to a French hotel with your family to celebrate your Mom's 70th birthday. It should be a joyous occasion, right? Cassie and her brother, Judd, were here with their parents 20 years ago when something traumatic happened. A man drowned in the hotel swimming pool and Cassie has had nightmares about it ever since. She's now back with her husband, 2 kids, Judd, her best friend, and her parents. This would be the last place Cassie would ever want to return to. How can she pretend to be having a good time when she's terrified of someone finding out what really happened?
What happened 20 years ago? Why is Cassie so shaken up about it still? When someone starts texting Cassie threatening notes about what happened 20 years ago she starts to really come undone. Who could be texting her? Who could know what happened 20 years ago? Why are her best friend and husband acting weird around her? Cassie could lose everything if the truth comes out! This book is filled with twists that will keep your head spinning. Our Perfect Holiday is a great summer read and I rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. The book is out now and should be read poolside for an extra shiver! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Our Perfect Holiday in exchange for a fair review.
What happened 20 years ago? Why is Cassie so shaken up about it still? When someone starts texting Cassie threatening notes about what happened 20 years ago she starts to really come undone. Who could be texting her? Who could know what happened 20 years ago? Why are her best friend and husband acting weird around her? Cassie could lose everything if the truth comes out! This book is filled with twists that will keep your head spinning. Our Perfect Holiday is a great summer read and I rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. The book is out now and should be read poolside for an extra shiver! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Our Perfect Holiday in exchange for a fair review.
June 4, 2026
Twenty years ago when Cassie was 16 here family was on a holiday in France when a teenage boy drowned in the resort pool. Years later Cassie still struggles with this. Now her parents want to take a family trip back to the same resort. They get back there and Cassie can’t help but remember what happened 20 years earlier. Then she starts getting threatening text messages and someone else ends up dead in the pool.
I love Daniel Hurst’s writing style. He writes quick read thrillers with shirt chapters and good twists. This book has great character and plot development and I loved how he brought everything together at the end.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Bookoutoure for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date June 19, 2026 4.5⭐️
I love Daniel Hurst’s writing style. He writes quick read thrillers with shirt chapters and good twists. This book has great character and plot development and I loved how he brought everything together at the end.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Bookoutoure for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date June 19, 2026 4.5⭐️
May 24, 2026
This is my first Daniel Hurst book but it will not be my last! It was such a fast paced, edge of your seat thriller. The short chapters made it very easy to just tell myself “One more chapter”. Every time i thought i knew what was going on, there would be yet another bombshell. It gave me “I know what you did last summer” vibes. This is a must read for summer!!!
June 14, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley, for letting me read this book!
Imagine spending your whole adult life thinking you’d gotten away with murder, only to have your parents insist on returning to the scene of the crime over a decade later. Problem is, you’re but the one who remembers…
It’s just as tense and suspenseful as it sounds. Definitely worth the read!
Imagine spending your whole adult life thinking you’d gotten away with murder, only to have your parents insist on returning to the scene of the crime over a decade later. Problem is, you’re but the one who remembers…
It’s just as tense and suspenseful as it sounds. Definitely worth the read!
May 22, 2026
“I Shouldn’t Have Come Here” by Daniel Hurst was such a twisted ride! This story is packed with deception, lies, and secrets around every corner. A family trip that ends with murder… again. I couldn’t put this one down and flew through it!
June 16, 2026
This book sucked me right in and kept me hooked until the end. I absolutely loved the storyline and the setting!! I read this book in less than a day because I just had to know who and why. Daniel Hurst is an amazing writer if you love fast paced thrillers!!
June 19, 2026
A dream luxury break turns into a tense, twist‑filled nightmare — classic fast‑paced psychological thriller from Hurst. Short chapters, mounting suspense and clever surprises make it totally addictive. Not deeply complex, but ideal if you want a gripping “just‑one‑more‑chapter” read — perfect for holidays or quick thrill‑fixes.
July 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book!!
This one was an easy read but started off slow for me. I enjoyed the main character Cassie and the premise of the book. A classic thriller with a mystery surrounding a death 20 years ago at the same hotel Cassie and her family go back to for her parent’s 70th birthdays. The last 30% of the book picked up for me and was much more enjoyable. My biggest issue with the book, and reason for giving it just 2 stars was the overkill on addressing & stating (multiple times), every single characters possible feeling or thought on something. Cassie often overexplained her emotions and revisited events that had already been conveyed through the action. As a result, the pacing slowed at times and became annoying because the story kept repeating the same thoughts over and over again.
This one was an easy read but started off slow for me. I enjoyed the main character Cassie and the premise of the book. A classic thriller with a mystery surrounding a death 20 years ago at the same hotel Cassie and her family go back to for her parent’s 70th birthdays. The last 30% of the book picked up for me and was much more enjoyable. My biggest issue with the book, and reason for giving it just 2 stars was the overkill on addressing & stating (multiple times), every single characters possible feeling or thought on something. Cassie often overexplained her emotions and revisited events that had already been conveyed through the action. As a result, the pacing slowed at times and became annoying because the story kept repeating the same thoughts over and over again.
July 3, 2026
I’m so on the fence with this one. I LOVE a Daniel hurst book. But this one missed the mark a little for me. It wasn’t bad. I just felt a little underwhelmed by it, I found all the ‘twists and turns’ predictable and a little bored towards the end of the book. 😢
June 28, 2026
I’m so sorry to say i’ so disappointed:(
I love Daniel Hurst, I love his books but I can’t even believe he wrote this one ? Like HOW ? I finished it just coz i kept telling myself i must be wrong after all this is Daniel Hurst abd he never goes wrong ! So just wait for it ! But no ! So predictable, so slow, so dragging that i literally skipped paggggges and didn’t miss a beat of the book ! Nope !
I love Daniel Hurst, I love his books but I can’t even believe he wrote this one ? Like HOW ? I finished it just coz i kept telling myself i must be wrong after all this is Daniel Hurst abd he never goes wrong ! So just wait for it ! But no ! So predictable, so slow, so dragging that i literally skipped paggggges and didn’t miss a beat of the book ! Nope !
June 23, 2026
I wanted to enjoy this book more. Felt it was a bit of a let down. Kinda figured out who did it. Expected more.
June 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️½
This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I found the writing repetitive and quite clunky at times, and I really struggled to connect with any of the characters. In fact, most of them just annoyed me, which made it difficult to become invested in what happened to them.
That said, I can’t deny that Daniel Hurst knows how to write a page-turner. Despite my frustrations, I found myself flying through the book without even realising it, and before I knew it I was 100 pages in and keen to see how everything would unfold.
For me, this lacked the depth and character development I look for in a thriller, but I can absolutely see why so many readers enjoy his books. If you’re after something fast-paced, easy to read, and perfect for throwing in your holiday suitcase, this could be exactly what you’re looking for. If you prefer a thriller that makes you think a little harder, you may find this one falls short!
This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I found the writing repetitive and quite clunky at times, and I really struggled to connect with any of the characters. In fact, most of them just annoyed me, which made it difficult to become invested in what happened to them.
That said, I can’t deny that Daniel Hurst knows how to write a page-turner. Despite my frustrations, I found myself flying through the book without even realising it, and before I knew it I was 100 pages in and keen to see how everything would unfold.
For me, this lacked the depth and character development I look for in a thriller, but I can absolutely see why so many readers enjoy his books. If you’re after something fast-paced, easy to read, and perfect for throwing in your holiday suitcase, this could be exactly what you’re looking for. If you prefer a thriller that makes you think a little harder, you may find this one falls short!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Get ready to pack your bags for a sun-drenched trip straight into a living nightmare with Daniel Hurst’s latest jaw-dropping psychological thriller, Our Perfect Holiday.
Hurst masterfully transforms a glittering, luxury French vacation into a claustrophobic cage of dark family secrets and relentless blackmail that will leave you completely breathless.
Sun, Sand, and Sociopaths!
🚀 Elevator Pitch
A glamorous family vacation at a luxury French hotel turns into a waking nightmare when a woman is found dead in the pool—forcing one guest to face a terrifying truth: someone knows what she did in that same pool twenty years ago.
📍 Setting
A glittering, isolated luxury hotel in the sun-drenched countryside of France, centered around a pristine, deceptively beautiful swimming pool.
✨ Vibe
Sun-soaked paranoia, claustrophobic family tension, and high-anxiety dread. It feels like a glossy postcard masking a rotten secret.
📚 Genre
Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense / Holiday Noir.
🪵 Themes
~The inescapability of past guilt
~Toxic family dynamics and hidden resentment
~The fragility of curated perfection
~Blackmail and psychological isolation
👥 Standout Characters
~The Protagonist: Hyper-vigilant, deeply paranoid, and completely trapped between her husband Reuben, her family, and her terrifying past.
~The Blackmailer: An unseen, omnipresent shadow weaponizing a single cell phone screen to dismantle a family piece by piece.
✍️ Author Writing Standout
Daniel Hurst excels at weaponizing mundane modern technology. The relentless, cold format of the text messages contrasts brilliantly against the warm, luxurious French backdrop, pacing the book like a ticking time bomb.
💡 Takeaway
You can change your name, your life, and your country, but you can never outrun the water that remembers your deepest sins.
🏷️ Title Significance
Our Perfect Holiday is dripping with dark irony. It mocks the carefully curated facade the family projects to the world, highlighting the sharp contrast between a dream vacation and a domestic execution chamber.
🌪️ Metaphor
A pristine swimming pool that looks inviting on the surface, but conceals a deadly, freezing undercurrent beneath the glittering water.
📖 Why You Should Read
If you love fast-paced, bingeable thrillers where a sunny paradise transforms into a claustrophobic prison of secrets, this is your perfect summer read.
💭 My Thoughts
Check in for the luxury. Stay for the murder. Our Perfect Holiday by Daniel Hurst is the ultimate sun-soaked nightmare!
Daniel Hurst hooks you by the throat right from the first chapter. The transition of this book from its original title (I Shouldn't Have Come Here) to Our Perfect Holiday emphasizes the brilliant fake-out of the plot. Watching the protagonist try to play the happy wife and daughter while her phone delivers precise psychological strikes is agonizingly tense. The pacing is relentless, and Hurst keeps you guessing about who is holding the camera—and the phone—until the final, breathless splash.
⚖️ Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)
"A sharp, addictive, sun-drenched nightmare that will make you look twice at your next hotel booking."
🔀 Recs
~The Holiday Home and The Family Trip by Daniel Hurst
~If you enjoy Daniel Hurst's fast-paced, twisty, and highly addictive domestic psychological thrillers, you will love these authors who master the same quick-reading, popcorn-thriller style: Freida McFadden, Emily Shiner, John Marrs, Miranda Rijks, Kaira Rouda, Keri Beevis, or Jeneva Rose.
Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. #CoverLove
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: June 19, 2026
June Newsletter
June 2026 Must-Read Books
Hurst masterfully transforms a glittering, luxury French vacation into a claustrophobic cage of dark family secrets and relentless blackmail that will leave you completely breathless.
Sun, Sand, and Sociopaths!
🚀 Elevator Pitch
A glamorous family vacation at a luxury French hotel turns into a waking nightmare when a woman is found dead in the pool—forcing one guest to face a terrifying truth: someone knows what she did in that same pool twenty years ago.
📍 Setting
A glittering, isolated luxury hotel in the sun-drenched countryside of France, centered around a pristine, deceptively beautiful swimming pool.
✨ Vibe
Sun-soaked paranoia, claustrophobic family tension, and high-anxiety dread. It feels like a glossy postcard masking a rotten secret.
📚 Genre
Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense / Holiday Noir.
🪵 Themes
~The inescapability of past guilt
~Toxic family dynamics and hidden resentment
~The fragility of curated perfection
~Blackmail and psychological isolation
👥 Standout Characters
~The Protagonist: Hyper-vigilant, deeply paranoid, and completely trapped between her husband Reuben, her family, and her terrifying past.
~The Blackmailer: An unseen, omnipresent shadow weaponizing a single cell phone screen to dismantle a family piece by piece.
✍️ Author Writing Standout
Daniel Hurst excels at weaponizing mundane modern technology. The relentless, cold format of the text messages contrasts brilliantly against the warm, luxurious French backdrop, pacing the book like a ticking time bomb.
💡 Takeaway
You can change your name, your life, and your country, but you can never outrun the water that remembers your deepest sins.
🏷️ Title Significance
Our Perfect Holiday is dripping with dark irony. It mocks the carefully curated facade the family projects to the world, highlighting the sharp contrast between a dream vacation and a domestic execution chamber.
🌪️ Metaphor
A pristine swimming pool that looks inviting on the surface, but conceals a deadly, freezing undercurrent beneath the glittering water.
📖 Why You Should Read
If you love fast-paced, bingeable thrillers where a sunny paradise transforms into a claustrophobic prison of secrets, this is your perfect summer read.
💭 My Thoughts
Check in for the luxury. Stay for the murder. Our Perfect Holiday by Daniel Hurst is the ultimate sun-soaked nightmare!
Daniel Hurst hooks you by the throat right from the first chapter. The transition of this book from its original title (I Shouldn't Have Come Here) to Our Perfect Holiday emphasizes the brilliant fake-out of the plot. Watching the protagonist try to play the happy wife and daughter while her phone delivers precise psychological strikes is agonizingly tense. The pacing is relentless, and Hurst keeps you guessing about who is holding the camera—and the phone—until the final, breathless splash.
⚖️ Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 Stars)
"A sharp, addictive, sun-drenched nightmare that will make you look twice at your next hotel booking."
🔀 Recs
~The Holiday Home and The Family Trip by Daniel Hurst
~If you enjoy Daniel Hurst's fast-paced, twisty, and highly addictive domestic psychological thrillers, you will love these authors who master the same quick-reading, popcorn-thriller style: Freida McFadden, Emily Shiner, John Marrs, Miranda Rijks, Kaira Rouda, Keri Beevis, or Jeneva Rose.
Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. #CoverLove
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: June 19, 2026
June Newsletter
June 2026 Must-Read Books
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Sun-Drenched Nightmare of Paranoia, Blackmail, and Brilliant Twists
Thank you to NetGalley, Daniel Hurst, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review Our Perfect Holiday in exchange for an honest review.
There is something uniquely unsettling about returning to a place where your worst memory was born, and Daniel Hurst turns that idea into a gripping, twist-filled thriller that kept me glued to the pages.
If you are looking for a psychological thriller that will completely hijack your evening and keep you turning pages well past midnight, Our Perfect Holiday is an absolute must-read. Daniel Hurst delivers a masterclass in claustrophobic tension, proving exactly why his books are so addictive.
The story centers on a seemingly idyllic family reunion in paradise that quickly spirals into a chaotic psychological trap. The character dynamics are beautifully strained from the very first chapter:
*Cassie: Our main character, who is completely falling apart under the weight of a twenty-year-old secret. Returning to the luxury French resort where she witnessed a horrific drowning as a child has her living in a state of explosive anxiety. While she is deeply flawed—and at times her overwhelming panic makes her feel a bit self-indulgent or distracted as a mother—you can’t help but get swept up in her absolute dread.
*Judd: Cassie’s brother, who shares the heavy burden of that dark childhood night. Watching the siblings try to maintain a relaxed, happy façade for their family while secretly drowning in their own mutual paranoia is incredibly gripping.
*Reuben: Cassie's husband, who accompanies her along with their twins, is completely oblivious to the fact that his wife’s childhood holiday was actually a grisly nightmare.
The catalyst for the chaos? Cassie’s parents decide to celebrate their milestone 70th birthdays by returning to the same French hotel. Cassie and Judd are forced to play along to keep their parents happy, desperately hoping the past stays buried. But the tension skyrockets when the anonymous text messages start dropping. Someone else is at the resort. Someone saw what they did two decades ago, and they want retribution.
Hurst’s signature crisp, staccato-quick writing style shines brightly here. The chapters are short, punchy, and consistently weaponize cliffhangers that make it impossible to put the book down. The sun-drenched, glamorous hotel setting provides the perfect, icy contrast to the dark, menacing blackmail plot.
While some thriller fans might spot a few of the early red herrings, the final act of this book is a total game-changer. Just when you think you have the entire web figured out, Hurst throws a final, jaw-dropping curveball that was completely off my radar. It is a genuine "what the heck" moment that reframes everything you just read. For readers who crave fast-paced momentum, intense family secrets, and a plot that leaves you breathless, this is a phenomenal, binge-worthy summer read.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (A fiercely entertaining 4/5 stars)
Why this perspective fits you perfectly:
1. Captures Your True Reading Experience: It highlights that feeling of thinking you have it all worked out, only to be completely blindsided by that final, radical plot twist.
2. Honors the Character Flaws: It introduces Cassie and Judd effectively, acknowledging that while Cassie's frantic choices and parental distractions might frustrate some readers, they add massive fuel to the book's "explosive anxiety."
3. Highlights the Structure: It praises Daniel Hurst’s clean writing style and rapid-fire cliffhangers, perfectly matching your appreciation for the book's unstoppable momentum.
My Final Verdict:
What impressed me most was how the story played with perception. Just when I felt confident about where things were heading, the narrative shifted again. Some twists I partially suspected, others completely blindsided me, and the final stretch had me flying through the pages to see how everything would come together. Dark, addictive, and full of tension, this is the kind of thriller that makes you tell yourself "just one more chapter".
A tense and entertaining psychological thriller that proves the past never stays buried for long.
Thank you to NetGalley, Daniel Hurst, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review Our Perfect Holiday in exchange for an honest review.
There is something uniquely unsettling about returning to a place where your worst memory was born, and Daniel Hurst turns that idea into a gripping, twist-filled thriller that kept me glued to the pages.
If you are looking for a psychological thriller that will completely hijack your evening and keep you turning pages well past midnight, Our Perfect Holiday is an absolute must-read. Daniel Hurst delivers a masterclass in claustrophobic tension, proving exactly why his books are so addictive.
The story centers on a seemingly idyllic family reunion in paradise that quickly spirals into a chaotic psychological trap. The character dynamics are beautifully strained from the very first chapter:
*Cassie: Our main character, who is completely falling apart under the weight of a twenty-year-old secret. Returning to the luxury French resort where she witnessed a horrific drowning as a child has her living in a state of explosive anxiety. While she is deeply flawed—and at times her overwhelming panic makes her feel a bit self-indulgent or distracted as a mother—you can’t help but get swept up in her absolute dread.
*Judd: Cassie’s brother, who shares the heavy burden of that dark childhood night. Watching the siblings try to maintain a relaxed, happy façade for their family while secretly drowning in their own mutual paranoia is incredibly gripping.
*Reuben: Cassie's husband, who accompanies her along with their twins, is completely oblivious to the fact that his wife’s childhood holiday was actually a grisly nightmare.
The catalyst for the chaos? Cassie’s parents decide to celebrate their milestone 70th birthdays by returning to the same French hotel. Cassie and Judd are forced to play along to keep their parents happy, desperately hoping the past stays buried. But the tension skyrockets when the anonymous text messages start dropping. Someone else is at the resort. Someone saw what they did two decades ago, and they want retribution.
Hurst’s signature crisp, staccato-quick writing style shines brightly here. The chapters are short, punchy, and consistently weaponize cliffhangers that make it impossible to put the book down. The sun-drenched, glamorous hotel setting provides the perfect, icy contrast to the dark, menacing blackmail plot.
While some thriller fans might spot a few of the early red herrings, the final act of this book is a total game-changer. Just when you think you have the entire web figured out, Hurst throws a final, jaw-dropping curveball that was completely off my radar. It is a genuine "what the heck" moment that reframes everything you just read. For readers who crave fast-paced momentum, intense family secrets, and a plot that leaves you breathless, this is a phenomenal, binge-worthy summer read.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (A fiercely entertaining 4/5 stars)
Why this perspective fits you perfectly:
1. Captures Your True Reading Experience: It highlights that feeling of thinking you have it all worked out, only to be completely blindsided by that final, radical plot twist.
2. Honors the Character Flaws: It introduces Cassie and Judd effectively, acknowledging that while Cassie's frantic choices and parental distractions might frustrate some readers, they add massive fuel to the book's "explosive anxiety."
3. Highlights the Structure: It praises Daniel Hurst’s clean writing style and rapid-fire cliffhangers, perfectly matching your appreciation for the book's unstoppable momentum.
My Final Verdict:
What impressed me most was how the story played with perception. Just when I felt confident about where things were heading, the narrative shifted again. Some twists I partially suspected, others completely blindsided me, and the final stretch had me flying through the pages to see how everything would come together. Dark, addictive, and full of tension, this is the kind of thriller that makes you tell yourself "just one more chapter".
A tense and entertaining psychological thriller that proves the past never stays buried for long.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.
Our Perfect Holiday follows Cassie as she returns with her family to a beautiful French hotel where, twenty years earlier, someone died in the swimming pool. What is supposed to be a celebratory trip for her mother’s seventieth birthday quickly turns tense when Cassie receives a threatening message: You should never have come back here. From that point on, the past starts creeping into the present, and Cassie is forced to question who knows what really happened all those years ago and what they want from her now.
This book had several things I usually enjoy in a thriller: short chapters, first-person POV, and a back-and-forth timeline that slowly fills in the bigger picture. I liked that we learned fairly early what happened in the pool twenty years ago, which shifted the mystery from what happened to who knows, and what do they want now? That setup kept me guessing and gave me plenty of room to form theories. The pacing was quick, and this was definitely an easy book to fly through. Daniel Hurst knows how to write a bingeable thriller, and the French hotel setting added a fun vacation-gone-wrong atmosphere. There were several secrets, suspicious characters, and twists that kept the story moving.
That said, this one didn’t fully hit the mark for me. I had a hard time connecting with Cassie, and as the book went on, I found her more frustrating than compelling. Since she is such a central character, that made it harder for me to feel fully invested in what was happening to her. Some of the twists were also predictable, including one of the bigger reveals later in the story. My biggest issue was the repetition. Cassie often explains her feelings and recaps events in a way that felt unnecessary, especially when the reader could already understand what she was going through from the action itself. There were moments where the story slowed down because it revisited things that had already been made clear.
The final chapter did offer a perspective I didn’t fully see coming, and I appreciated that last attempt to add another layer. Unfortunately, by that point, I was more ready for the story to wrap up than shocked by the reveal. Overall, Our Perfect Holiday is a quick, easy thriller with a strong premise, a great vacation setting, and plenty of secrets. While it wasn’t my favorite Daniel Hurst book, I can see fans of fast-paced domestic suspense enjoying the ride.
Our Perfect Holiday follows Cassie as she returns with her family to a beautiful French hotel where, twenty years earlier, someone died in the swimming pool. What is supposed to be a celebratory trip for her mother’s seventieth birthday quickly turns tense when Cassie receives a threatening message: You should never have come back here. From that point on, the past starts creeping into the present, and Cassie is forced to question who knows what really happened all those years ago and what they want from her now.
This book had several things I usually enjoy in a thriller: short chapters, first-person POV, and a back-and-forth timeline that slowly fills in the bigger picture. I liked that we learned fairly early what happened in the pool twenty years ago, which shifted the mystery from what happened to who knows, and what do they want now? That setup kept me guessing and gave me plenty of room to form theories. The pacing was quick, and this was definitely an easy book to fly through. Daniel Hurst knows how to write a bingeable thriller, and the French hotel setting added a fun vacation-gone-wrong atmosphere. There were several secrets, suspicious characters, and twists that kept the story moving.
That said, this one didn’t fully hit the mark for me. I had a hard time connecting with Cassie, and as the book went on, I found her more frustrating than compelling. Since she is such a central character, that made it harder for me to feel fully invested in what was happening to her. Some of the twists were also predictable, including one of the bigger reveals later in the story. My biggest issue was the repetition. Cassie often explains her feelings and recaps events in a way that felt unnecessary, especially when the reader could already understand what she was going through from the action itself. There were moments where the story slowed down because it revisited things that had already been made clear.
The final chapter did offer a perspective I didn’t fully see coming, and I appreciated that last attempt to add another layer. Unfortunately, by that point, I was more ready for the story to wrap up than shocked by the reveal. Overall, Our Perfect Holiday is a quick, easy thriller with a strong premise, a great vacation setting, and plenty of secrets. While it wasn’t my favorite Daniel Hurst book, I can see fans of fast-paced domestic suspense enjoying the ride.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What would you do if you thought you had been responsible for someone's death? Would you want to return to the scene of the accident? Twenty years ago, on the last family vacation in France at the Ocean Royal Palace, Nicola and her brother Judd, thought they were responsible for the death of a nineteen year old teenager. Now their parents want to return to the same resort for a family vacation to celebrate their 70th birthdays. Nicola absolutely does not want to return. She begins having panic attacks, that get worse when she starts getting messages on her phone. Someone knows what she and Judd did, but who? She can't tell her parents what happened, so she, her husband Rueben, best friend from childhood, Frankie, her twins, brother Judd and her parents head off for a family vacation. Will Nicola and Judd finally be arrested for murder?
Our Perfect Holiday is a rather quick read, with short chapters, and good pacing so that you just want to read "one more chapter" until, suddenly you are at the end. I wasn't sure if I liked Nicola or not. She is definitely anxious and high strung, but is a good mother despite her fear of water. The twins were little hellions, screaming, running around and getting into trouble. I wouldn't have wanted them around. Reuben was a good dad and I really liked him, until I didn't. Judd was annoying and not very helpful at all when it came to figuring out what was happening. He seemed to be an alcoholic to me, but that might have been caused by the guilt he felt for the last twenty years. The story is told in past and present, so that we can see what happened and why Nicola and Judd reacted the way they did. Trying to figure out who was sending the messages wasn't easy. I thought I had it figured out, but was wrong. As the twists start coming, I was completely blindsided by what had really happened, but I did figure out why the messages were being sent. When a woman is found floating in the pool, I know I would have hightailed it out of there, but that didn't happen and eventually, all is clear, until the final twist. If you are looking for a quick psychological thriller, then pick up Our Perfect Holiday, but not just before you are going on holiday.
Our Perfect Holiday is a rather quick read, with short chapters, and good pacing so that you just want to read "one more chapter" until, suddenly you are at the end. I wasn't sure if I liked Nicola or not. She is definitely anxious and high strung, but is a good mother despite her fear of water. The twins were little hellions, screaming, running around and getting into trouble. I wouldn't have wanted them around. Reuben was a good dad and I really liked him, until I didn't. Judd was annoying and not very helpful at all when it came to figuring out what was happening. He seemed to be an alcoholic to me, but that might have been caused by the guilt he felt for the last twenty years. The story is told in past and present, so that we can see what happened and why Nicola and Judd reacted the way they did. Trying to figure out who was sending the messages wasn't easy. I thought I had it figured out, but was wrong. As the twists start coming, I was completely blindsided by what had really happened, but I did figure out why the messages were being sent. When a woman is found floating in the pool, I know I would have hightailed it out of there, but that didn't happen and eventually, all is clear, until the final twist. If you are looking for a quick psychological thriller, then pick up Our Perfect Holiday, but not just before you are going on holiday.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Every time Daniel Hurst announces a new book, I’m immediately ready to sign up because at this point I know exactly what I’m getting: a fast, addictive, popcorn thriller that completely takes over my evening. Whether I’m reading one of his books physically or listening on audio, his stories always hook me almost instantly. His latest novel, I Shouldn't Have Come Here, was no exception.
The story follows Cassie as she returns to a hotel her family used to vacation at years ago. But this isn’t exactly a nostalgic getaway. Twenty years earlier, someone died in the hotel pool, and Cassie and her brother witnessed the entire thing. Naturally, that kind of trauma doesn’t exactly scream “relaxing vacation memories.” Then, in true Daniel Hurst fashion, history starts repeating itself in the present day.
One thing I consistently love about Hurst’s writing is his ability to create characters who are completely chaotic in the most entertaining way possible. Sometimes his protagonists are so messy and questionable that you almost understand why terrible things happen to them. And honestly? That’s part of the fun. In this case, though, I genuinely liked Cassie and found myself invested in what was happening to her from the start.
Hurst also has a writing style that makes his books impossible to put down. The chapters are short, sharp, and always end in a practical way. Before you know it, it’s midnight, and you’re halfway through the book, wondering where your evening went. His pacing is consistently strong, and even when the plot gets outrageous, it stays wildly entertaining.
At this point, Daniel Hurst has become one of my go-to authors when I want a thriller that is fun, bingeable, and packed with drama. I Shouldn't Have Come Here delivered exactly what I wanted: suspense, messy characters, tension, and a story that kept me flipping pages. Bravo once again to Mr. Hurst for another ridiculously entertaining read. I’m excited to keep diving into his backlist while also impatiently waiting for whatever chaos he releases next.
Many thanks to Daniel Hurst, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The story follows Cassie as she returns to a hotel her family used to vacation at years ago. But this isn’t exactly a nostalgic getaway. Twenty years earlier, someone died in the hotel pool, and Cassie and her brother witnessed the entire thing. Naturally, that kind of trauma doesn’t exactly scream “relaxing vacation memories.” Then, in true Daniel Hurst fashion, history starts repeating itself in the present day.
One thing I consistently love about Hurst’s writing is his ability to create characters who are completely chaotic in the most entertaining way possible. Sometimes his protagonists are so messy and questionable that you almost understand why terrible things happen to them. And honestly? That’s part of the fun. In this case, though, I genuinely liked Cassie and found myself invested in what was happening to her from the start.
Hurst also has a writing style that makes his books impossible to put down. The chapters are short, sharp, and always end in a practical way. Before you know it, it’s midnight, and you’re halfway through the book, wondering where your evening went. His pacing is consistently strong, and even when the plot gets outrageous, it stays wildly entertaining.
At this point, Daniel Hurst has become one of my go-to authors when I want a thriller that is fun, bingeable, and packed with drama. I Shouldn't Have Come Here delivered exactly what I wanted: suspense, messy characters, tension, and a story that kept me flipping pages. Bravo once again to Mr. Hurst for another ridiculously entertaining read. I’m excited to keep diving into his backlist while also impatiently waiting for whatever chaos he releases next.
Many thanks to Daniel Hurst, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
We’re going to have to return to the scene of the crime … it was the perfect trip, until it ended in murder.
Cassie and her family - husband Reuben, their twins, her parents, brother, Judd and family friend, Frankie - have returned to the beautiful French hotel, Ocean Royal Palace, twenty years on from their last visit to celebrate her mother’s 70th birthday. It should be a trip to remember … and it is, but for all wrong reasons!
She feels she is trapped in the resort, because twenty years ago someone was killed in this very hotels swimming pool. A shiver runs down her spine as she knows the truth about what really happened all those years ago. She smiles and lies her way through the first day, but when she receives an anonymous warning text - ‘you should never have come back here’. Who is watching her? Who else knows what happened?
Then one night, while Reuben and Cassie are within the hotel ground, they see a woman’s lifeless body in the same pool. It’s happening all over again. Are her family now the ones in danger?
Well! Just when you think you have it worked out, DH comes away with a red herring which keeps us on our toes and just needing to read on! The unsettling nature of picking the same venue as Cassie’s worst memory and darkest secret helps to create a gripping, thought provoking read and claustrophobic atmosphere - despite being a huge hotel! Great character development and Cassie’s attempt to be cool and calm on the surface infront of her family, while struggling internally, felt so realistic.
An excellent holiday thriller set across dual timelines. As well as paranoia-filled, chaotic and guilt-ridden characters and tons of cliffhangers, lies and deception - this story has plenty of twists, suspense and short chapters which helps makes it an addictive, speedy read. Be a perfect summer read! ☀️
With thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Daniel Hurst for the ARC of this book. When I was given this in exchange for an honest review, it was titled: ‘I Shouldn’t Have Come Here’.
Cassie and her family - husband Reuben, their twins, her parents, brother, Judd and family friend, Frankie - have returned to the beautiful French hotel, Ocean Royal Palace, twenty years on from their last visit to celebrate her mother’s 70th birthday. It should be a trip to remember … and it is, but for all wrong reasons!
She feels she is trapped in the resort, because twenty years ago someone was killed in this very hotels swimming pool. A shiver runs down her spine as she knows the truth about what really happened all those years ago. She smiles and lies her way through the first day, but when she receives an anonymous warning text - ‘you should never have come back here’. Who is watching her? Who else knows what happened?
Then one night, while Reuben and Cassie are within the hotel ground, they see a woman’s lifeless body in the same pool. It’s happening all over again. Are her family now the ones in danger?
Well! Just when you think you have it worked out, DH comes away with a red herring which keeps us on our toes and just needing to read on! The unsettling nature of picking the same venue as Cassie’s worst memory and darkest secret helps to create a gripping, thought provoking read and claustrophobic atmosphere - despite being a huge hotel! Great character development and Cassie’s attempt to be cool and calm on the surface infront of her family, while struggling internally, felt so realistic.
An excellent holiday thriller set across dual timelines. As well as paranoia-filled, chaotic and guilt-ridden characters and tons of cliffhangers, lies and deception - this story has plenty of twists, suspense and short chapters which helps makes it an addictive, speedy read. Be a perfect summer read! ☀️
With thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Daniel Hurst for the ARC of this book. When I was given this in exchange for an honest review, it was titled: ‘I Shouldn’t Have Come Here’.
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