I was immediately drawn in, and right from the start I could tell it was going to be one I enjoyed. However, as I read I realised there were no chapters! Because of this I felt a bit confused at times as the perspectives chopped and changed with no warning.
The books is basically spilt 50/50 and takes place on the Friday and Saturday of a couples holiday.
I Enjoyed the second half( Saturday) so much more flew through that in a day, I just couldn't put it down.
I, like the book kept chopping and changing as to what I thought was going on. It's very gripping and takes you on a wild goose chase as everyone seems to have a secret and is an untrustworthy narrator. I did guess some parts but was completely shocked by others. I think if it wasn't for book having no chapters it would have been more enjoyable read as at times it felt like a bit of a slog, specially part one.
So summed up I really enjoyed it, and would recommend if you love a slow burn. My rating is somewhere between 3.5 and 4⭐

I found the story really interesting but hated the layout, and that's why I had to knock a star off.

I enjoyed the relationships between the wives and loved that everything isn't always as it seems, people put up a front for others. There were also many twists and turns, and most were believable for "real-life". The pace was good, so it kept me interested throughout.

My biggest issue was the layout - there were no chapters. Plus, it switched from one pov to another between paragraphs, which meant I had to reread sections to figure out who was talking.

Overall, a very entertaining read delving into the secrets people keep close to their chests along with a murder mystery main plot. I can't wait to read more from Gilly.

The long Weeken did not live up to my expectations

The constant jumps between characters, without any indiction who is speaking gave me a headache and I did not enjou reading this

What an amazing book . The most tense and suspenseful book I think I’ve ever read . The group of friends along with the accommodation family certainly had their individual stories to tell and it was extremely well written all the way through this novel . I cannot rate this book highly enough and will definitely be recommending it to my friends and I can’t wait to read more from this author

This predominately psychological suspense explores toxic relationships and the resultant emotional damage. It features several viewpoints, but many are unreliable narrators, and it leaves the reader wondering who to believe. The story's structure adds to the reader's confusion as there are no distinctive chapter headings or indications that a different person is speaking before they do.

The story's ethos is an addictive medley of poignant and suspenseful. All the characters are believably flawed, and many are not likeable. The claustrophobic settings add to its unpredictability. The pacing is slow, but it's still a page-turner with a dramatic conclusion.

I received a copy of this book from Century Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I struggled at first as I wasn't sure who was narrating and when. I soon settled into a very tense, tight thriller where all kinds of secrets come to the fore. You think you know your friends? Think again.

I hadn't read one of the author's books before and, although the premise of this one sounded brilliant, I have to admit I didn't enjoy it much as I expected to.

The novel is about three couples who rent an isolated barn for the weekend. The men are old friends, the wives less so. After the husbands are all strangely delayed, the wives then find an extremely disturbing message from a "mutual friend" advising that she has killed one of their husbands. The discovery of this note sparks a torrid of suspicion, hidden lies and deceit.

I usually love the 'friends stranded somewhere secluded in peril' plot, but, while there is no doubt this was very cleverly plotted and thought out, it fell slightly flat for me. Possibly I have read too many of these type of books recently, but I couldn't warm to any of the characters and I found myself skipping parts.

The story is told from multiple view points (including a mystery unnamed person), but these are separated only by paragraphs, not different chapters. So, for me, at the beginning especially, this was confusing and I kept having to try to re-establish what was happening and who was 'speaking'.

The mystery element did work well and I was keen to find out the identity of the unknown narrator, which kept me reading.

Although the style of writing with the numerous narrators separated only by paragraphs wasn't for me, I would read another of the author's books in the future.

Thanks to publishers Random House UK, Cornerstone and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book - I’d say overall it was a decent read but I wasn’t completely captivated - I think maybe as I’ve read quite a few books recently with the ‘group of friends go on a trip and end up in danger’ theme.

I liked the writing style, I liked the good level of detail and there were definitely a few twists concealed that I wasn’t prepared for. However, I did get a tad confused with the storyline at points and also felt that the pace was unnecessarily slow here and there.

Not one of my favourite books but a book that is intriguing in places.

Big thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What's the book about?

Three couples decide to rent a barn for a long weekend of relaxation in the remote countryside. Their trip goes horribly wrong when the women who arrived ahead of the men find a devastating note claiming one of their husbands will be murdered. There is no internet or cell service, so they can't check on their spouses either. Friendships are shattered as the situation escalates and secrets are gradually revealed.

My thoughts:

It took a while for me to get into the flow of the book, especially since there were no chapters or breaks/segways to different settings. I enjoyed the buildup and the foreboding atmosphere that pervaded every situation. The lovely countryside landscape descriptions and the very believable flawed characters were highlights for me..

Three couples plan a weekend away together as they do every year but at the last minutes the men all have excuses as to why they cannot travel on the Friday but that the wives should go on ahead as planned. When they reach the remote barn conversion they are greeted by a note from Edie to state that she is going to murder one of the men and that she will never be seen again.

What follows missing a thriller that leaves you not knowing who to suspect from one minute to the next. It took me a little while to get into the style of writing but once I did I could not stop reading.

Three couples are planning a long weekend away. The fourth couple have been hit by tragedy. With the three husbands delayed, the wives set off to their rural and remote house for the weekend. On arrival they receive a gift with an awful note saying that the writer has killed one of their husbands. Dismissing it as a joke, the women decide to enjoy the weekend, but things soon begin to become very sinister. Twisty and turning, this is a gripping read.

The Long Weekend was a good story that I read over a weekend. What started off as a seemingly ‘run of the mill’ wild weekend story soon became something more intriguing as the stranded wives start to fear for their husbands and you start to find out about their backgrounds and their relationships.

The characters were not particularly likeable, in fact other than the daughter they are all pretty unpleasant. However I felt that this gave the story a different edge. You weren’t really rooting for any of the main characters, yet still I was compelled to see how it all played out. The story is told from multiple points of view not only the main characters but also a mysterious third voice who is clearly unhinged. There was also a third strand to the story which was that of the farmer and his wife trying to make a living against the odds which was quite moving.

I found this quite a clever twisty story. The numerous unreliable narrators did get a little confusing at the start, but it soon became clear. I have a read a few of the novels by Gilly Macmillan and have always found them to be very enjoyable and this was no exception

Gilly Macmillan never disappoints with her stories. Not only is this tale tense but keeps the reader guessing whose point of view it is written from until quite late in the book. The relationship between the three women at the Northumbrian holiday let is not that of three great friends. They are the wives of long-time friends and with a night without their partners there smoothing the way there is much tension and lack of empathy. A nasty welcome to their stay fractures what was supposed to be a fun weekend from the start.
Well written, cleverly crafted with strong characterisation it kept me riveted.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Gilly Macmillan/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

“Hi ladies, Your weekend starts here! I hope you have a great time! I didn’t come along because I know I’m not welcome. This is goodbye. I’m going away. But I wouldn’t want you to forget me. By the time you read this, I’ll have killed one of your husbands. E.”

My thanks to Random House U.K. Century for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Long Weekend’ by Gilly Macmillan in exchange for an honest review and for an invitation to take part in their blog tour.

This is the third novel I have read by Gilly Macmillan in recent years and again found it a gripping psychological thriller that successfully combines a number of plot lines.

I always feel that this kind of thriller is best approached ‘cold’; so just a few details. Three women arrive at an isolated Northumbrian farm for a weekend getaway. Their husbands will be joining them in the morning. Yet a package awaits them, accompanied by the above unsettling note.

Naturally there’s no phone signal, no access to the internet, and a storm about to hit. The situation quickly spins out of control as they try not to panic while ascertaining who wrote the note (the recently widowed member of their group with a reputation for pranks is the main suspect) and which husband (if any) is the target.

Of course, they do daft things like wandering around the desolate landscape seeking mobile phone reception and the like.

While the couples appear to be a tight knit group of friends there are undercurrents and secrets that come to the fore during the events of the weekend.

Macmillan uses the narrative style of swapping often between various points of view though only one, initially unidentified first person perspective, is clearly up to serious shenanigans. Trying to discover the identity of that voice added to the ongoing tension.

Yes, at times things were rather over the top, but psychological thrillers often have a touch of the Grand Guignol about them. It is part of their escapist appeal.

Overall, I felt that Gilly Macmillan did well in building up the tension during ‘The Long Weekend’ and delivering on shocks and twists to the point I could not stop reading as I had to discover the outcome. It’s basically what I seek in this kind of clever thriller.

The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan
I give this book 4.5 stars

Deep in the Northumbria moors, 3 women arrive for a weekend getaway.
Their husbands will be joining them in the morning.
But when they get to Dark Fell Barn, the women find a devastating note. Their phones are out of range. There's no internet. They're stranded. And a storm's coming in.
The situation starts to spin out of control as each wife tries to find out what's going on.
This was a tight-knit group. But someone has decided that enough is enough.
That it's time for a reckoning.

This fast paced story narrated in 1st person is written through the eyes of several characters and a creepy unknown..As you are drawn in everyone seems to be hiding something! I loved the gripping atmosphere that the author created.The plot held my attention throughout with so many layers,plenty of twists,turns and shocks that meant …..l COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!!
Go grab your copy and enjoy the ride
With thanks to Netgalley,Gilly Macmillan and Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for my chance to read and review this book

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"There's the feeling of a storm coming. Clouds race to gather on the horizon, their shadows grazing the solid stone-and-slate farmhouse below"
The weather is ominous and the brewing atmosphere between the barn owners John and Maggie makes for an unsettling atmospheric opening. A meticulously planned parcel delivered by courier is left for the incoming guests "Jayne, Ruth and Emily". The three women are bound by the friendship of their husbands. All 3 men have had last minute business making them unable to make the first night.
The mysterious Edie has orchestrated the note, her friendship on ther periphery since the death of her husband Robert. The note is a farewell and a promise that one of the husbands will be murdered.
Dark Fell barn is isolated. What had promised to be a relaxing retreat, now spirals into a nightmare. Phone service is non-existent. They had been warned not to leave after dark. John darkly noted only one of the women was worthy of the barn. He is guardian of the land and as he left his eerie parting thoughts were " they're on their own now". The land holds a bloody past and he is reluctant to have strangers trespass despite the need to earn money from its rent. The setting sees the friendships begin to fissure. Buried secrets burble to the surface as friendships are pushed to the brink. #thelongweekend #gillymacmillan #penguinrandomhouseuk #Netgalley #Century

This is an author that I never hesitate to pick up. I have enjoyed reading her books from the first one I picked up. One of the things I enjoy most about this author is her writing skills and her ability to pull me into the story. This book is no different. This is a well written story about a group of friends that go on a trip. The wives go first and expect their husbands the next day but what happens the next day is not something they ever expected. As friendships are tested and things go out of control, when is enough, enough. This is a story that is hard to put down and the charactes made the story engaging. The twists and turns had me turning pages fast just to see what would happen next. The growth of the plot was great as well as the growth of the characters. This was a hard to put down story that I highly recommend. You dont want to miss this one.

While it took me a while to get into this book (I didn't really gel with any of the characters bar Maggie), I was HOOKED once the plot twist was revealed as it was one hell of a twist.

The barn was the perfect setting for the creepy atmosphere Gilly Macmillan created and the whole time I was there with the characters, I was just relieved I wasn't there in person.

The book just got more and more tense as time went on and I can honestly say that while this was my first by the author, it won't be my last.

Simply the weekend from hell! Three couples arrange to meet in an isolated farmhouse. The husbands are delayed so the women go ahead. A threatening message is left for them from a mutual "friend", one of their husbands will not be coming! So fast paced with rapid and deliberately confusing change of narrator, the sense of threat is nerve wracking even after they get home.

This is the first book that I have read by the author, the title and cover totally sold it to me. I sure has hell wasn’t disappointed. It has left me wondering why I’ve never read any of her books before.

I devoured this in a day…I simply couldn’t put it down. The story alternates between different characters point of view. when three women visit Northumbria moors for a weekend retreat. With their husbands joining them the next morning. Until they find a note claiming one of the husbands has been murdered.

We follow a story that is full of twists and turns and will keep you on the edge of your sit. This story will have you questioning all the characters and guessing until the end. There are some rather uncomfortable moments that will put you off your food. and I mean literally…..Made my stomach turn that did!

The Long Weekend is jammed packed with suspense and OMG moments I loved the setting. The time period jumps back and forth with plenty of character build up. I really enjoyed it and I am excited that I have found a new author to read.

Many thanks to Cornerstone via Netgalley for a copy all thoughts are my own and not biased in anyway.