⭐ 5 Stars (4.5 rounded up)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this thrilling and addictive read!

Told in both present and past timelines, Our Last Resort pulled me in from the very first page. The pacing was relentless, keeping me completely on edge and making me genuinely anxious—in the best way. The writing is sharp and immersive, building tension with every chapter as secrets from the past slowly unravel and crash into the present.

I loved how the dual timelines seamlessly wove together, deepening the suspense and creating a layered story that was impossible to put down. The characters were brilliantly complex, and the desert resort setting added such an eerie, atmospheric vibe.

📖 Blurb: A luxurious desert resort becomes the backdrop for a gripping tale of secrets, betrayal, and survival. As the past collides with the present, nothing is as it seems, and every choice could be deadly.

This is a fast-paced, anxiety-inducing must-read that will keep you up late at night turning pages. Perfect for fans of The Quiet Tenant and psychological thrillers that deliver both twists and emotional depth!

While I enjoyed the Clémence Michallon's debut novel, THE QUIET TENANT, OUR LAST RESORT took me a little longer to get into and ultimately, fell flat. Michallon's immersive writing remains consistent across both her novels, and was really what kept me going. Otherwise, the story left me with a lot of questions. I didn't quite understand the necessity of the dual timelines as there was little connecting the two stories. I wasn't engaged in the present timeline, and by the time I got to the "reveal" I thought to myself, "Alright, I guess that makes sense," but by that point the present timeline had run out of steam; it was clearly relying on the past, and the cult narrative, to give it some promise. The novel was ultimately lacking the suspense element I was looking for. I'd recommend this for readers who are looking for a murder-mystery novel and not a thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson Publishing for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

More of a slow burn thriller which isn’t as much for me. Saying that though there’s a great storyline behind this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A slow-burning thriller where the real tension isn’t the murder; it’s the memory.

A slow-burn mystery wrapped in desert heat and childhood ghosts. Our Last Resort is part thriller, part trauma tapestry, where the real tension isn’t just the murder at the luxury resort, but the murkier question of how we survive what raised us. Frida is an unreliable narrator in the best possible way-not coy, but protective; and her story unfolds with restraint and emotional weight.

The trauma seeps through the pages; not just the flashy trauma (cults! assault! abandonment!) but the long, quiet ache of attachment gone missing. Michallon writes with compassion and a quiet confidence. She lets her characters be human: broken, self-protective, sometimes soft in ways they don't even notice.

I stayed not for the whodunnit, but for the ache of it all: morally gray characters, fractured siblinghood, and the rare moments when a stranger’s kindness changes everything.

A four-star for its layered character work and quiet psychological power. Without that? It might’ve been a three. But the people in this story stayed with me, and that counts for something.

If you come for the thriller, you might wish it snapped faster. But if you stay for the character study, for the trauma rendered in fine strokes and the shadowy softness of memory, you’ll be rewarded.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #ElliotandThompson for the ARC.

I loved the cult aspect of this book. I read this book pretty quickly, it definitely had me hooked. However, I didn’t absolutely love it. Frida and Gabriel were boring, in my opinion. The who dun it for one of the twists did have me guessing until shortly before it was revealed.

3 stars

I absolutely loved _The Quiet Tenant_, to the point where I think of it every time I encounter a certain kind of dude or a specific style of property. The events and characters of that novel have haunted me often since I first cracked that read. This is why I immediately requested Michallon's newest effort, _Our Last Resort_, with incredible enthusiasm. This is not a bad read, but for me, it did not match the majesty of its predecessor.

Readers meet Frida and Gabriel in the present day at a secluded location. These two have a remarkable history. They grew up together in a cult, experienced incredible trauma as a result, escaped under less than amenable circumstances, began to consider each other siblings, became further enmeshed in each other's lives, and then drifted apart. Now, they're back together to mend...just kidding. They are back together, but let's be real. These two have a lot to work through and work out, and it's not going to be a chill vacation by any standards. In case anyone thinks otherwise, a young woman immediately ends up dead. This event becomes the catalyst for a wild ride between past and present.

Reader, you may think you know what a central reveal will be...and you will likely be right. You may also quickly guess at other details. For me, this transparency was too much for the genre. I wanted some mystery here. I also wanted some more depth to the characters and faster pacing (which should've especially been achievable with multiple timelines. There should have been a lot happening).

Coming off of a much-loved earlier book AND having just read another fantastic mystery/thriller by a different author, I found myself wanting a lot more out of this decent but not totally mind-blowing read. I'm really looking forward to returning to Michallon but hopefully finding more of that earlier magic.

OUR LAST RESORT - I ha a difficult time with this book. I did not care for the writing style, the characters, or even the story lines. Instead of stopping at 47 percent, I skimmed the rest of the book, which did not satisfy me any. I'll just say this book barely makes average. Source: Netgalley. 3*

I love Clemence Michallon’s novels. Like her first, this one is fab!
A dark, tragic tale of love and what we wouldn’t do to survive. Mystery abounds amongst the viable murderous scenarios but which one is the truth? Raised in an abusive cult, two teenagers finally manage to escape only to find themselves totally alone and confused in a world in which they have to, somehow, find their place, their only allegiance to each other as family. Harrowing to say the least.

“Death seems to follow you everywhere…”
That one line perfectly captures the unsettling, slow-burn brilliance of Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon.

After absolutely loving The Quiet Tenant, I was nervous—would this new novel live up to the chilling, poetic magic of her debut? I’m happy to report that it absolutely does. Michallon is no one-hit wonder; she’s officially on my auto-read list.

This story follows Gabriel and Frida—two people who aren’t biologically related, but became inseparable after growing up in a brutal cult. Years later, having drifted apart, they reunite at a luxury resort following Gabriel’s wife’s tragic death. But paradise quickly turns into something far more sinister when a woman is found dead on the property, and long-buried secrets begin to surface.

Told through dual timelines—past (their harrowing childhood in the cult) and present (the resort)—the story moves with eerie elegance. Both timelines were equally gripping, and I found myself fully immersed in each. Michallon writes with a literary flair that feels rare in thrillers. Her depiction of cult life is unsettling and authentic, and her transitions between timelines are smooth and purposeful, adding depth to both character and plot.

This isn’t your typical fast-paced thriller—it’s more of a quiet, creeping suspense that builds slowly but masterfully. I especially appreciated the focus on Frida and Gabriel’s bond. The emotional weight of their shared trauma adds so much richness to the narrative.

While I did have a hunch about who was behind the mystery, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment. In fact, I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it—which is always the true mark of a great read.

Highly recommended for fans of literary thrillers, cult narratives, and character-driven mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC.

🔹 My take: 3/5

🔸 Frida and Gabriel have come for a week long stay at the luxurious hotel Ara situated in a desert in Escalante, Utah. Hotel has got many influential guests including William Brenner and his young third wife Sabrina. Frida notices something off between the couple in early days and on the fourth night of their stay, a horrible scream wakes them up and they find Sabrina dead. Frida & Gabriel have their own dirty little secrets and they know this scandal could be pinned down to them if the police digs into their dark past. Who is really Sabrina’s killer and are Frida & Gabriel working hand in glove or against each other?

💖 Wows - The book is in dual timelines - present which is in Escalante where murder has happened and the other 15 years in past which is about Frida & Gabriel’s early years when they were a part of a cult run by a man Emile. The chapters about their past are very elaborate since it gives insights on how it shaped their personalities. Clemence’s word building is very atmospheric. The way the hotel, its artefacts and spaces are described, it sounded like a true boutique hotel. I liked the stealthy expeditions the teens had sneaking from cult premises.

💔 Ows - It would be me but off late I have read too many thrillers that involve cult and the cult eventually is involved in “the business” which is so predictable that it sounds cliched now. I was invested in the murder investigation but their past really bored me since I knew exactly what was coming. Found multiple plot holes at the end like how come no one ever reported the kids missing, what happened to the cult overall in the end, what was Emile’s purpose of the cult, why did the police never searched where the last clue was found though it was a thing of interest, how come no one in cult recognised Gabriel even once? This fell flat and did not look like a thriller or mystery.

💫 Looking forward to reading The Quiet Tenant by the same author that has rave reviews on GR. Sadly, this one did not work for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @elliottandthompson and @netgalley for sharing the DRC in exchange for honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this author’s previous book, so I was excited for Our Last Resort, but unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me. I’m usually all in for a good cult storyline, and while that element was intriguing, I actually found myself wanting more of it—the present-day timeline dragged a bit and lacked the urgency I expected from something billed as suspense. To me, this read more like a slow-burn literary mystery, and while the writing was solid, I never felt fully connected to the characters. That said, Saskia Maarleveld’s audiobook narration was excellent (as always), and I’ll absolutely keep reading whatever this author writes next. Not bad by any means—just not one that’ll stick with me for long.

I absolutely loved this author's debut, The Quiet Tenant, so I was really excited to hear about her new book - especially with those cultish vibes that immediately drew me in.

Siblings Frida and Gabriel, who escaped a dangerous cult as children, reunite years later at a luxury resort hoping to heal. But when a murder occurs and Gabriel is accused, long-buried secrets resurface, and Frida must face the truth about their past and what really happened the night they fled.

The story moves at a much slower pace than I expected. The tension builds very gradually, and at times the plot feels a bit padded out. It definitely lacked the gripping suspense and urgency that made The Quiet Tenant such a standout for me.

Sadly, the mystery and twist felt a little underwhelming. The reveal didn’t quite land with the impact it needed, and some of the plot threads felt underdeveloped or unresolved.

While the themes of trauma and sibling dynamics were compelling, I struggled to connect emotionally with the characters, something just felt like it was missing.

After such a powerful and unique debut, this one didn’t quite deliver the same punch. That said, the writing is thoughtful and the premise strong, it just didn’t hit the emotional or suspenseful highs I was hoping for.

I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the complicated relationship between Frida and Gabriel. It added to the complex plotting as the story unfolded and shocking truths are revealed. Fans of psychological cult thrillers will enjoy this one.

Frida and her brother Gabriel haven’t been close in years — not since they escaped the cult they grew up in, and not since the tragedy that drove them apart. But a luxury desert getaway at the exclusive Ara Hotel might be their chance to reconnect. That is, until another guest is found dead and Gabriel becomes the prime suspect. As the resort goes into lockdown, Frida is determined to prove his innocence — even if it means unearthing long-buried secrets from their past.

What follows is a fast-paced, psychologically driven mystery with Frida as our scrappy, smart, and fiercely protective lead. Her dogged loyalty to Gabriel keeps things moving — even if I couldn't quite get behind her decision to not lawyer up when things get dicey (especially given their very dramatic shared history). The cult backstory adds some juicy intrigue, but it doesn’t fully tie into the main mystery, which felt a bit flimsy and predictable in places. That said, the desert setting is a vibe — even if it mostly serves as a clever pun for the title.

The ending isn’t earth-shattering, but it delivers an emotionally satisfying conclusion that suits the book’s quieter focus on sibling bonds and trauma.

If you want a breezy beach read that blends tension with trauma and loyalty — and you don’t mind a few loose threads — Our Last Resort does the job. Just don’t expect it to outshine The Quiet Tenant.

When Gabriel and his sister Freda meet at a hotel to vacation and reconnect, they are mixed into the death of a rich man's wife. Coming from a cultish background they escaped from not much is known about them beyond what they tell people. When the police come they realize that Gabriel has once been involved in the death of his wife but no evidence has been found.
The story is very dark and at times hard to follow. It's not really a favorite of mine since I found the characters to be unlikable, I couldn't connect to them at all. Others may love it but it's not for me. I have already bought The Quiet Tenant by this author so will give it a try. Thanks Netgalley and Elliot and Thompson for the ARC.

3.25/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Elliott&Thomson for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a decent thriller that worked well as a summer read!

You should pick this one up if you enjoy:
- Summer resort settings ☀️
- Murder investigations 🫆
- Main characters who were once part of a cult 🕯️
- Dual timelines ↔️
- Slow-paced, character-focused thrillers 🔍

While I found this book enjoyable and easy to binge, some sections dragged a little. I really liked the exploration of the cult and the way it shaped the FMC’s life. One of the twists was especially well done. Overall, I liked it, but it probably won’t be a particularly memorable read for me.

This story unfolds across two timelines: the past, where our two main characters are growing up in a cult, and the present, where they reconnect as adults on vacation at a desert resort. When a young woman is murdered at the resort, they become suspects, forcing them to confront buried memories from their pasts. It’s a slow burn, but beautifully written. I enjoyed the story and the unexpected twists along the way. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

After loving The Quiet Tenant, I couldn't wait to dive into Clémence Michallon's newest novel - and Our Last Resort absolutely delivered.

Set in the stark beauty of the Utah desert, this story follows Frida and Gabriel - two people bound not by blood, but by a haunting shared past in a cult they barely escaped as teens. Years later, they're at the Ara, a remote luxury resort, debating whether to take part in a documentary about their traumatic upbringing. But when Frida overhears a violent fight between a tabloid mogul and his glamorous young wife - and that wife turns up dead the next day - their already fragile peace begins to unravel.

As suspicion falls on Gabriel (not for the first time), Frida is forced to confront how much she really knows about her brother figure, and how much she’s willing to protect him. The story weaves seamlessly between past and present, building a slow, smoldering tension that kept me flipping pages late into the night.

Michallon writes trauma with nuance and compassion, and her characters - especially Frida - are incredibly complex. At its core, Our Last Resort is more than a murder mystery. It’s about survival, chosen family, and the ways we desperately try to outrun our pasts.

If you loved The Quiet Tenant, this one will hit just as hard - maybe even harder. I’ll read whatever Clémence Michallon writes next, no questions asked.

Read this if you enjoy: Cult trauma, murder mystery, emotional depth, slow-burn suspense.
Setting: A hauntingly gorgeous resort in the Utah desert.
Themes: Loyalty, survival, trauma, memory, and the fragility of truth.
Favorite line: “This is who we are.…We start over together. Again. And again.”

After reading their other book I was excited to read more from them.
While I did enjoy this. Overall I wasn't wowed. It didn't stand out as anything different to books ive read before.

Definitely an Author I'll continue to check out in the future though.

Really enjoyed this one! Clémence’s writing is so compelling. I loved the dual timelines and settings. Felt very isolated and intimate. Can’t wait to read more by her!