5 friends gather together to celebrate Steph's 50th Birthday. On the second day, while hiking, one of them is murdered.

I feel that I have read several books following this trope in the last month! A group of friends, secrets, drama, away in a remote location. I wanted to read this because the characters were closer to my age. I will say the book was somewhat entertaining- had a Housewives of whatever city vibe. However, I soon became tired of the characters- each one seemed to be a caricature of a specific trait: narcissism, controlling, martyr, follower, and brave. Because they were written so strongly to represent a specific trait, they came across as completely one dimensional. I felt like the characters seemed more like adolescent teens, than 50 year old women, and I really wasn't rooting for a single on! And then there were the 2 men. They were in their 30's, and were the caretaker/handymen for the owners of the farm. Shaun was an ok character, but Tom was over the top creepy. I was really hoping that this story would pan out.

Unfortunately, I had the plot/twist figured out in the scene where they leave to go hiking. I also figured out the "killer"- it was supposed to be a twist, but I suspected exactly what would happen at about the 50% mark. And the build up to this twist, and the ending was quick! So this was entertaining, in a "campy, over the top, crazy people" way- but it does not compare to Simon McCleave's "Last Night at Villa Lucia".

These are only my own opinions, as many others rated this much higher, and seemed to really enjoy it.

I plan on reading the next novel, hoping it will be as highly enjoyable as Villa Lucia!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the first book that ive read by this author and I did enjoy it.
It was easy to read, not too taxing, and had a good setting.
It was quite predictable but it didn't ruin it.
The characters were ok but quite OTT I thought.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping murder mystery. Five friend go to France for a birthday celebration. One ends up dead how did she die, fall or pushed. With plenty of twists along the way that will keep you guessing till the end. Good plot well paced and good characters. Loved the setting, excellent read. Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this review ARC.

Thank you, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for letting me review Five Days in Provence, to provide an honest review in return.

I loved all of the secrecy, hiding, and twists and turns! As a woman who just turned 40, I felt very physically insignificant then these ladies! They knew how to party, and hike up mountains during fires. Crazy! I would have to workout a full year in advance, and not just jump on the bandwagon, ready to go day of. I am a little jealous of these ladies! Seriously!

I did figure out one of the main twists BUT I did not see the end coming! That’s when you know you have just read a great book.

The drama between these friends, is a lot! I am not a fan of drama whodunnits, but this was accomplished tastefully and tactfully, that I wasn’t thinking about the friends’ drama, but what actually was happening on the outskirts of that drama through this author’s wit and keen skill!

If you like vacation whodunnits, and a reunion with a group of friends, that goes terribly wrong, this is your book!

Steph was going to be fifty and she had decided to celebrate it, along with her four friends by climbing Mount Ventoux in Provence.
The five friends, Steph the lawyer and the arranger, Darcie the self centred, entitled influencer who thought that the world owed her a living, Ruby, Darcie's older sister, the brainy one of the two but also the one with the poor body image, Abi who tries to be like Darcie and Katie who recently came out as gay, these five had been friends since childhood and this story reminisces throughout.
Steph desperately wants this holiday to be a success, she has planned it all but from the start there are arguments, always with Darcie at the root of them.
As the story unfolds, the focus is on Darcie's stalker, a stalker who had threatened her life, a stalker who was on the police radar.........where was this stalker ?
Shaun, the caretaker who lives across from the holiday villa, and Tom his assistant, become friendly with the girls, it is a very strange combination but it is to Shaun and Tom that the girls turn when tragedy occurs.
I enjoyed reading this book but I must admit that I didn't like any of the characters, I know that friends argue but these five didn't seem to have anything in common and argued all the time even though they were spoiling Steph's birthday.
I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary.

Five old university friends head off for a short break for Steph's 50th birthday. The story highlights just how much the five have changed throughout the intervening years and when four head up on a mountain climb, only four return. Plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing what is happening and who the perpetrator is. And then just near the end, we have the big reveal....WoW

Thanks to Netgalley/Storm for the ARC to review.

A birthday celebration turns into a tragic nightmare when one of the friends ends up dead. Now you have four friends together all wondering if any of the others are killers. The mind games that they played in their own mind would be enough to drive someone bonkers, and their bickering drove me crazy.

This was a fairly good mystery, though some of the reveals were easy to figure out. I do not believe I have ever read a book where I disliked every character. These ladies were not likable, and maybe that was by design by the author so you would discount anyone as a suspect.

The multiple POV's was interesting and the shorter chapters made this easy to read. I bumped this one up to four stars because I always enjoy reading a good mystery, and this one was pretty decent.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Five Days in Provence was a fun, entertaining thriller! I inhaled this book in 2 sittings! The characters were saucy and the plot was absolutely twisted. Was some of it predictable? Yes. But that was part of the fun. I would have loved more character development, but overall this was a satisfying summer read! Perfect to devour by the pool or beach!

Ughh I really wanted to like this one based on the description....

This book had a promising premise—a scenic setting, long-time friends, and a murder mystery—but ultimately it fell SHORT. While the atmosphere and setup were strong, I found it difficult to connect with the characters as they felt exaggerated and point blank unlikeable. The female friendships came across as unrealistic, filled with petty arguments and even physical fights, which made the story feel less authentic. I'm not sure if this was because the author was a male and it is what he assumed that's what a female friendship entails. The plot twists were predictable for me and the pacing was uneven which led to an unimpactful final reveal. It did not deliver the gripping suspense or emotional depth the description suggested and overall, it was an underwhelming read that didn’t quite live up to my expectation at all.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

(4.75) I read this book in two sittings - I will definitely be picking up more of this author’s books. A classic popcorn thriller that would easily get you out of a reading slump! I caught myself running through my theories as twists got revealed - a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! All opinions are completely my own

Steph has taken her time to plan this perfect getaway with 3 of her lifelong friends to celebrate her 50th. Being best friends and yet so different from one another as well as two being sisters; the drama starts to unfold right on the plane! When they arrive at the farmhouse they are staying they are greeted by two younger attractive men who are the grounds keepers. Secrets come out, social media posts are made and one of them winds up murdered. This book you will devour to know the juicy secrets and who done it!

Five Days in Provence
by Simon McCleave
Pub Date: Jun 27 2025

From best selling author: Simon McCleave, "Five Days in Provence" is a psychological thriller that explores the dark side of friendship and the devastating consequences of long-buried secrets. Five lifelong friends gather at a picturesque farmhouse nestled amidst the lavender fields to celebrate a birthday, but beneath the sun-drenched skies of Provence, their dream escape will end in murder.

It's a blend of mystery, thriller, twists, turns and lots of suspense. At times it left me breathless until the final, jaw-dropping twist at the end!

Many thanks to #FiveDaysinProvence #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me an E-ARC of this 5 star book!

Five Days in Provence is one of those books that quietly pulls you in and stays with you. It’s a slow burn in the best way—Five Days in Provence" is one of those books that quietly pulls you in and stays with you. It’s a slow burn in the best way—taking its time to introduce you to the characters, their stories, and all the emotional baggage they carry. You don’t just read about them—you feel like you know them. Their regrets, their hopes, the secrets they’re holding onto—it’s all laid out slowly, piece by piece, and it makes for a really powerful read.

What I loved most is that it’s not just about the mystery (though that part is definitely juicy and full of surprises). It’s about the people. Their relationships, the decisions they’ve made, and the way the past keeps creeping in when they least expect it. The drama isn’t over-the-top; it feels real and raw, and that’s what makes it hit so hard.

McCleave does a great job of balancing emotion and suspense. Just when you think you’ve got things figured out, another twist pops up—but it never feels forced. Everything flows naturally, and by the end, you’re left feeling like you’ve been on a meaningful journey, not just through a mystery, but through the lives of these deeply human characters.

If you’re into stories that are rich, emotional, and full of heart—with a little drama and mystery thrown in—this book is definitely worth picking up. It’s thoughtful, engaging, and surprisingly moving in all the best ways.

This was a book that I wanted it to keep going. It was quite good. A birthday weekend that didn’t go quite as planned. A hike up a mountain that ended in disaster! Many twists, one I suspected shortly before it was revealed, didn’t lessen my enjoyment one bit. Others I was like what wait a minute! Great read!

Steph and her four lifelong friends have taken a trip to climb Mount Ventoux in France for Steph's birthday. However things don't according to plan from the get-go, with Instagram-obsessed Darcie clashing with sister Ruby, and Katie harbouring a secret. Throw in the handsome builders from across the road and things soon get out of hand. Not least when Darcie's stalker is on the loose and a dangerous wildfire threatens their idyllic mountain walk.

When the dust settles, the five friends become four, as one of the group is found dead on the mountain. Who is the culprit and can the others survive the night?

I really enjoy Simon McCleave's stand alone novels; they're full of all of the drama and thrill of his series novels, plus some excellent twists.

Five lifelong friends are holidaying in Provence celebrating a milestone birthday for one of the group. There are lots of issues and arguments between them. I wondered occasionally how their friendship had lasted so long.

The murder happens at the beginning of the book but interestingly we do not know which of the five is the victim. Nor do we have any idea of the killer. I was completely wrong about who the corpse was going to be but I managed to guess the killer just before it was revealed.

I thought this was an excellent thriller, unusual in its process and always well paced. The setting was well done and the characters an interesting mix. I actually spent the whole book thinking I knew who the murderer was only to fall for the author's trick at the end.

I am surprised I have not read this author before but will certainly look out for his books now.

I loved this !It's one of those books that I got into straight away. The plotline is fantastic and i didnt want the book to end, it kept me up reading into the early hours of the morning. I really enjoyed getting to know all of the characters, A definite 5 star book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Five friends get together for a long weekend at a luxury cottage in rural Provence to celebrate Steph’s fiftieth birthday. From the outset, each of the women appears to be on edge with conflicts and arguments quick to surface. They arrive at the cottage on 31 July and on 1 August one of the party is dead.

The story is told through the alternating perspectives of the core characters which gives it good pace and really helps in building the growing tensions within the party. There are lots of twists and turns and gradually secrets and insecurities get revealed.

A well crafted story, brilliantly told.

Our main character, Steph, has organised a 50th birthday trip to the Provence, where the 5 friends will hike up Mont Ventoux and spend time catching up with each other drinking and eating good food. The story is told using multiple points of view and over different time lines. It was fast paced, gripping and a rollercoaster of a read! Although, they are lifelong friends, I came to realise they have their flows, disagreements, secrets and lies. And that ending, it is one that I never saw coming.

A fast-paced and atmospheric mystery set against the sunlit charm of Provence, quickly draws the reader into a seemingly perfect getaway that unravels into suspicion, secrets, and murder.

The story follows Steph and her four closest friends as they reunite for her birthday at a dreamy farmhouse. What begins as a relaxing holiday filled with wine, laughter, and a long walk takes a sinister turn when the hike up Mont Ventoux ends in tragedy. One friend is found dead—and the remaining four are left to wonder who among them might be hiding something deadly.

This was a thoroughly engaging and quick read—perfect for devouring in one sitting. The characters fit the familiar mold of upper-middle-class British women with complicated pasts, strained relationships, and polished facades beginning to crack. While some plot points were easy to predict, the intrigue, layered dynamics, and breezy writing style kept the momentum going.

Despite the grim premise, there’s a surprisingly light touch to the narrative that keeps it from becoming too heavy, making it an ideal pick for fans of friendship thrillers with a sharp edge and a summery setting. An enjoyable, twisty read about loyalty, betrayal, and the dark truths we keep even from those closest to us.