Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

The majority of the story takes place over two days in summer 2022 when Darcie and her sister Ruby plus friends Abi, Katie and Steph rent a luxury farmhouse in Provence for five days in order to celebrate Steph's 50th birthday in style. Darcie is an influencer who has been plagued for years by a stalker who she can't seem to shake off.

There is a lot of tension between the five friends, and I can't say I liked anyone much. The only first person POV belongs to Steph which I found a bit random as everything seems to be centered around Darcie. We have to mention Shaun and Tom, two young handymen who deal with maintenance of the farmhouse, but there is something not right about them. On the second day they all attempt a mountain hike, there are wild fires, and one of the women ends up dead. We don't immediately get told who it is, and the hunt is now on for the murderer. Has Darcie's stalker made it to France?

To be honest, I figured out the stalker straight away but there were still a few good twists about what really happened. And did we ever find out why Shaun had an arrest warrant out for him? The storyline was captivating and fast-paced but I thought the subplot about Darcie's husband Hugo was unnecessary. Read if you like hidden secrets between friends and outdoor suspense.

3.5 stars

I loved this book! I stayed up all night reading as I just couldn’t put it down. I had to find out what happened and I couldn’t go to sleep! I am totally speechless wow!

From the minute I picked it up I struggled to pull myself away I was hooked! There were SO many twists and turns it was amazing! My heart was pounding throughout! Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

This was truly first-class thriller writing! I’d highly recommend this book it’s a must read when it comes out!


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

Five friends travel to idyllic Provence but their well-organised holiday turns into a bad dream when one of them is murdered.
The first part of the book introduces the characters. Long time friends, they have their little quarrels and differences but they are also very close although their lives are not always free of drama.
In the second part it is a clear ‘whodunit’.
The suspicions are clear if you are a seasoned thriller reader, yet the author manages to keep you interested until the end thanks to a fast pace and some unexpected twists.
Overall a very enjoyable read.

This book looks like a fun romp with lots of intrigue, but the sheer volume of mistakes, spelling, grammar and tense makes it impossible to read.

Steph planned a perfect birthday getaway—five friends, five days in the French countryside, full of wine, sunshine, and a hike up Mont Ventoux, but when a wildfire breaks out and the group gets separated, only four friends return. One is found dead, and suddenly no one feels safe. As the police close in, the trust between them starts to crumble.

I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good, quick thriller! I read it in one sitting and would totally check out other books by Simon McCleave.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is such a gripping thriller I read it in one sitting. Its a fabulous mystery with so many suspicious characters you wont be able to guess whats going to happen next. It is fast faced and full of tension. A must read for all thriller fans!

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Simon McCleave and Storm Publishing📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

Steph, Ruby, Darcie, Abi, and Katie go to France to celebrate Steph's birthday. There are def tension between these women: jealously, entitlement, down right bullying. When they go hiking one day, one of these girls ends up dead. Meanwhile, Darcie's stalker is rumored to be in France. Is he there? Did he kill her?

I wish we would know why there was a stalker to begin with. I feel like it was just thrown in there. Also very predictable who the stalker was. The book was still really good; some really good twists.

Suspicions were bouncing around my head like a game of pinball! We have our pick of suspicious characters and secrets. I read this in one sitting, full of cattiness and tension from all involved, keeping you on your toes until the very end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Five Days in Provence by Simon McCleave due to be published June 27, 2025.

Steph spent months planning her perfect birthday celebration with four of her best friends – a little partying and a hike up the famous mountain in France. Unfortunately, wildfire flared up and the group became separated. When the smoke clears, one of their friends is dead. Is it the mysterious stalker of one of the group or someone they know?

This one definitely held my interest – first I wasn’t sure which friend was dead – didn’t find out until over halfway through. There were many suspicious people around them so it was a mystery as to “whodunit”! It was a rollercoaster of a ride with a surprise ending! Loved it!

#NetGalley #SimonMcCleave #StormPublishing #FiveDaysInProvence

Well, considering I read this book in basically one sitting, I'd say it was a hit. This was on the shorter side and filled with plenty of drama, tension and twists. The timeline was fast paced and kept me on my toes the entire time.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.