Her Last Holiday

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Pub Date 29 Apr 2021 | Archive Date 1 May 2021

Description

You come to Soul Shrink to be healed. You don’t expect to die.

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of 2 people. But he has never let on what happened to the third suspected victim: Jenna.

Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

The master of suspense is back. Prepare yourself for the latest nail-shredding, heart-in-mouth rollercoaster ride from the Sunday Times bestseller.

You come to Soul Shrink to be healed. You don’t expect to die.

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade...


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ISBN 9780008379230
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PAGES 400

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Featured Reviews

CL Taylor has done it again! An ansolutely spellbinding read. SLEEP and STRANGERS were so mesmerising and expertly plotted I couldn't imagine her next book could be any better, but Cally has outdone herself yet again! I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this fabulous book. Highly recommended.

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Her sister Jenna disappeared from a wellness retreat on the Island of Gozo. Two years later, Fran books herself onto a wellness retreat run by the same people to try and find out what became of Jenna. Can Fran find out the truth of what happened to her sister or will her questions about Jenna’s disappearance put her in danger?

A tense intriguing thriller with good twists which made for a suspenseful read.

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Amazing book about a vacation gone wrong. This book is kind of a combination of a psychological thriller and a mystery. I enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend it

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It’s a good year when there are C L Taylor books to be published and so 2021 is shaping up pretty well!

This is such a powerful book with a cast of amazing and very deep characters – some which irritated me constantly and others which I really felt for throughout.

Secrets, lies and so much more weave some very unsettling undertones throughout this book and I don’t think anyone reading it will quite work it all out until the last pages. I love that about C L Taylor’s books – the suspense and build up is just brilliant and with great characterisation along the way her books are the complete perfect package.

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4.5 stars

I enjoyed this book for so many reasons, and they were mostly unexpected.

The novel operates in three perspectives: Fran's, Jenna's, and Kate's. There are two primary time periods happening as well. At first, I worried this could be tough to balance, but I found that this really enhanced the pacing and complexity of the characters and central mystery. Points for style and format!

Fran is such an intriguing character. From the first scene, readers know that she's capable of more than she thinks she is. I love that she is painted in a relatively untraditional way and given so much room to both grow and shine.

There's a lot to enjoy here: mystery, thriller, women's fiction elements, and a really functional style. I recommend this to fans of any or all!

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#HerLastHoliday #NetGalley
Clever writing.
Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of 2 people. But he has never let on what happened to the third suspected victim: Jenna.Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive?
I loved it from middle to end but the beginning was slow. It's a result of clever writing. How a Guru turned out to be a liar. I liked the plot.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.

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This was my first book of Taylor and won’t be the last one. This is a slow burn mystery, hooked me from the first page. Secrets were revealed at appropriate moments and nothing prepared me for the innumerable twists in the last quarter.

Fran’s sister Jenna has gone on a wellness retreat in Gozo island run by self-help guru Tom and his assistant/wife Kate. Jenna along with the other two guests died there; their deaths have been ruled as unfortunate accidents, and Tom has been sentenced two years.

Present story starts two years after aforementioned events, Fran books herself for the retreat organized by the same people. Fran is on a mission to uncover what happened to Jenna. Three of the original guests also come to the retreat.

Told in Kate, Jenna and Fran’s perspective in short chapters alternating between present and past times at the retreats.

The motley crew of characters are the best feature of this book. They step on each other’s toes all the time, each one considers other as stupid, tries to exploit and falls flat on their face and this had me burst into cackles of laughter. Some characters come under false pretenses and hidden motives, always check their backs in order to avoid their covers being blown.

Loved how the main characters indulge in competition to unravel each other’s secrets. Watching this mad cap unfolding is so much fun. Enjoyed reading Fran’s POV for her no-nonsense approach. Kate is also strong and resilient.

Taylor’s writing is fluid and effortlessly deters confusion despite having quite a few characters in different timelines. I’ve pinned my suspicions on one particular character but was gob-smacked when Taylor wickedly unveiled the offenders.

The retreats at the beautiful isolated locations added a mysterious atmosphere.

Overall, a compelling mystery with well-developed characters. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every second spent on it.

Thanks to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you Net galley and Avon Books for the eARC.
Two years ago, in Gozo, at a wellness retreat, Fran's sister Jenna went missing.
Her parents are still devastated and want Fran to find out what happened. Not really sure she wants to, she gives in to her mother's pleas and goes to the new retreat in Wales. There she meets the motley group of the other retreaters and the couple who run it. Over the length of the book, we follow Fran in the present and Jenna two years ago.
It gets more and more intense as the story unfolds and the characters are fascinating, some appealing, but most of them are quite creepy.
When we finally find out what really happened, it's quite shocking with a great ending. Highly recommended!

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Two years ago Fran's younger sister Jenna went to a wellness retreat in Gozo... but she never came home. Determined to find out the truth about what happened to her sister, Fran joins Tom Wade's latest retreat. Can she find out the truth from Tom or one of the others who attended the previous retreat? Or could her search for the truth cost Fran her life?

Another fantastic book from C.L. Taylor. The plot was thrilling and tense, the characters interesting, and the twists and turns brilliant. A really gripping read - recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

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I love CL Taylor books so was extremely excited to get my hands on this courtesy of NetGalley this week!
The story is set at a retreat attended by Fran who is determined to find out how and why her sister Jenna disappeared from a previous retreat led by the same hosts. Jenna’s story is told alongside Fran’s and one of the hosts, Kate, and the reader has to piece together what happened to a Jenna, whilst Fran does the same.
This book kept me gripped and I loved the way it had a number of red herrings as well as twists along the way. Would recommend.

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C L Taylor takes us into a world of needy people in this tale of discovery and self-discovery, as a woman (Fran) sets out to discover what happened to her much younger sister who went on a holiday/extended therapy session two years earlier but never returned. The official verdict was suicide but with no body discovered and the fact that the organiser of the event, Tom Wade, was imprisoned for the manslaughter of two others at the same event, there is every reason to suspect that the full story has not been told. When Wade is released and organises a new retreat, Fran attends under an assumed name, determined to find out more.

The novel is billed as a psychological thriller, the tension builds as strange and scary things occur on the retreat and you cannot figure out who is really responsible. It reminded me of one of those Agatha Christie stories where a bunch of people are all in a lovely house together, with surface politeness but all sorts of friction and emotion underneath. The desire to know more kept me turning the pages. The story is told through the eyes of three women: Fran, her missing sister Jenna, and Tom’s wife Kate. We jump back in time for the Jenna sections, with helpful chapter sub-heads saying “two years ago”. Several people on the current retreat were also at the previous one, so we gradually learn more about them from these different perspectives.

Tom and Kate pitch their holiday retreats as “soulshrink”, events for hurt people to give them a new start. We join some of the counselling sessions, and in describing these the author shows deep knowledge of the subject; they are convincingly told and make the book though-provoking in terms of the ways people damage one another (and themselves) and the somewhat dysfunctional families they belong to. There is ambiguity in the telling: are Tom and Kate charlatans making promises to their vulnerable guests that cannot be fulfilled? Or are they doing good work (manslaughter and missing person incidents aside) that really does improve the lives of others? This is deliberate and even at the close of the book, when the facts of the matter are revealed, the reader is, I believe, meant still to have questions about what is sincere and what is fake.

I love books that challenge me to do some thinking, and this is one of them. Part of me though would have liked the loose ends to be more firmly tied up; there is also an incident described in the first chapter for which we never get full resolution.

Great read though, exciting, well-written, thought-provoking and insightful.

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The Lie is one of my favourite books ever and this one sounded quite similar so I was really excited to read it. I'm happy to report that it definitely lived up to expectations and is now firmly in 2nd place on my list of favourite C L Taylor novels.

I really loved the idea of the retreats being run by people out to make money by exploiting vulnerable people (I hope that after the events of the book they all sought professional help instead!). The inclusion of psychosomatic illness was something I really enjoyed. Having studied psychology at university I find the subject so fascinating.

The main characters were all very well described, even if I didn't particularly like them (Kate!!) and the side characters were fantastic as well. I particularly enjoyed reading about Phoenix and Tom, and even after the novel is over I still can't quite decide how I feel about Tom.

I really enjoyed the plot and whilst I did guess parts of it, other parts came as a complete surprise. I found the ending satisfying.

There's nothing about the novel I disliked. Sometimes Geri was referred to as Fran and Renata as Erica by people who weren't supposed to know yet but I'll put that down to this being an ARC.

Overall I would absolutely recommend this book, I loved it.

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I just finished reading Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor and wow, I was impressed. I thought it would be a light, fun mystery, but this was immersive and dark. It kept me guessing.

When the opportunity is presented to attend a self-help retreatin Gozo, Fran goes for one reason- to figure out what happened to her sister. Two years prior, Fran’s sister Jenna went on the same retreat and went missing. Suspected to have killed herself, Jenna’s body was never found and Fran has questions. She is determined to find the truth. But what she finds out is a layer of secrets and lies from multiple guests. Who can she trust and is she in danger too?

Synopsis:

You come to Soul Shrink to be healed. You don’t expect to die.

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of 2 people. But he has never let on what happened to the third suspected victim: Jenna.

Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

There is more to this fantastic story than what I briefly shared, and I highly recommend Her Last Holiday if you are into mysteries and thrillers. This comes out in April and you will want to put it on your To-Be-Read list immediately.

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C.L. Taylor is one of my favourite authors of all time so of course I seized the opportunity to read her new book which is due to be published 29th April 2021.

This is a cleverly constructed story that had me hooked from beginning to end. I can’t help but to try and suss out the plot within the first few pages of any book but I genuinely didn’t see the ending of this story coming. The whole novel is full of secrets and lies that are all weaved together with well-built suspense throughout.

I thoroughly enjoyed the cast of characters, especially the protagonist Fran and her ‘refreshing’ bravery but some of the side characters were equally likeable and dislikable which made for interesting reading. I thought the premise of this story was really intriguing and was delivered beautifully, as always, by the author. I find her writing style unique and gripping and she just has a way to leave you hanging on every word and telling yourself ‘just one more chapter’ until you’ve finished the whole book.

If you’re a fan of C.L. Taylor’s, you’ll know that with her powerful characters, tantalising twists and knack of immediately drawing you into a story, it’s the perfect package and Her Last Holiday is no exception. And if you’re not already a fan, you will be if you read any one of her books!

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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My love for C.L Taylor is on going. Her last holiday is centred around the the sisters Jenna and Fran. 3 years earlier Jenna goes away on a self help retreat which leads to deaths and it seems Jenna has committed suicide. So when Frans mother begs her to go on the retreat in present day to get answers surrounding Jennas death reluctantly she goes and what she uncovers is a lot more than she can handle.

The characters in this story are all amazing, we hear from Jennas POV 3 years before hand, she's going through alot and when she meets Tom the retreat leader she finds an instant spark between them. I liked the past story however the present story was much better it has to be said.
Fran is the main character and I find her character to be so relatable. She's middle aged tired, fed up guilt riddled and still trying to and failing to please her mother. This is why she ends up on the retreat. She's a very to the point person which I loved so much! Her character is full of depth and I was really routing for her to find out what happened to Jenna. Her guilt for not listening to her sister has followed her making her believe she was part responsible for her suicide.
Kate is the wife of Tom who is the retreat leader. Kate has waited for Tom to come out of prison and is pushing forward the most recent retreat. Kate is our story baddie and I just loved her!
There are alot of side characters throughout the story that all add something to it.

I love that our leading characters are all strong women. They all have their own issues and this is clear and further gets dived into throughout the story. Fran is my favourite and her family dynamics I found very interesting to read. Especially the mother daughter relationship the idea that you can be 51 and still have a very torturous relationship with your mother.

What the book also looks at really well is how people who are in dark emotional places can be suckered in by aimed phrases like I can save you life. This is the tag line that hooks Jenna in and many others on the retreat. It just shows how low everyone is that they have turned to an unqualified life coach instead of seeking professional help. It's very interesting how this is used espically from Kate POV.

I really enjoyed this book. When I read the blurb and title I thought yes another book like The Lie by C.L Taylor, I must say I preferred the Lie and almost wish I hadn't read it before hand as I spent alot of the book comparing the two, I chastised half way through though!
I recommend this book great suspense and loved finding out how it all played out. I had guessed the plot twists but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Happy to give 4 stars 🌟

Thank you first of all to C.L Taylor for yet again another fantastic read, Netgalley and Avon publications for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

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Another solid thriller from CL Taylor. Her Last Holiday carried me along like the tide, with the voices of Fran and Jenna hooking me in. I always feel that Taylor's novels are very character driven, and that she excels at creating multifaceted, intriguing characters - particularly women - and this book is no exception. A brilliant story to escape into.

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This book is told through the perspectives of three pivotal women in the story and moves back and forth between the past and present. There are a handful of good twists and turns, although not necessarily a "keep reading even though your eyes are shutting" type of book. Overall, a good easy read.

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I thoroughly enjoyed "Her Last Holiday" by C.L Taylor. Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fran is an English IVT teacher, whose sister Jenna went missing during a wellness retreat 2 years ago. The owner of the company, a self proclaimed self-help guru, who runs the retreats and his wife, are about to lead the first retreat since their last went terribly wrong. Fran's mother Geraldine begs her to go undercover to try to find out what happened.

Once Fran arrives at the retreat, she encounters a quite a cast of characters, and finds it difficult to know who to trust. Fran and an undercover journalist team up to uncover unexpected secrets as they rush to find out what happened to Jenna.

There may have been some mistakes in the ARC using Fran's undercover name, Geraldine, a few times it seemed that people who didn't know she was Fran called her Fran.

This is a thriller that will keep you guessing until the end!

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I haven't picked up C. L Taylor's work before but will definitely keep an eye out for it now.
This was an enjoyable thriller with good character development and a decent plot.
We follow Fran, a woman in her fifties, who goes on a wellness retreat  to investigate the disappearance of her sister Jenna who had travelled to Gozo, as a part of the same retreat group a few years ago.
The prose was simple and easy to read and the multiple POVs really helped  strengthen our connect with the different characters.
The twists were decent though a bit predictable and the story was tied up with a nice bow.
Though the book was on the longer side, I didn't find myself struggling to finish it and was content with the pacing.
Yes, overall the premise did feel familiar, but it was still a pleasant read and I found myself quite engaged with the story.
I recommend it for a quick and pleasant weekend read.

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I thought Cally's last book was my favourite but this one most definitely is. Cally's books just keep on getting better and better. When Fran's sister Jenna disappears from a wellness retreat in Gozo, people are suspicious as to what really happened to her. Fran sets out on a journey to see if she can piece together what happened to her sister, did Jenna have secrets to hide and will Fran get caught up in it all. Will Fran get the answers she so desperately needs. Expect drama, lies, secrets, twists and turns that I did not see coming. I thought I knew half way what had happened but I could never believe what I found out. The story kept me on edge the whole time reading it and my hand was over my mouth as I was shocked to discover the truth. An addictive read.

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Sisters who have disappeared are a trend for certain. This follows Fran whose sister Jenna disappeared from a retreat 2 years prior. There’s a lot of back and forth from then to now, which gives us a good slow burn. I love the characters and the suspense but the best part of all is the ending. What a twist! You won’t see it coming!

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This book was brilliant! I’ve always loved CL Taylor books so I was thrilled to get this ARC from NetGalley. She has outdone herself with this new book - It was such a great suspense thriller / murder mystery.

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared from a SoulShrink wellness retreat that went wrong. Now she’s set to go on her own retreat to try and uncover what really happened to Jenna and why there are still so many secrets around her disappearance.

Lots of suspense, great characters that you can get invested in and a really psychologically twisted ending. I liked the flashbacks as they really let you get to know Jenna rather than the whole story being from Fran’s point of view. It was interesting to see how the two sisters approached the SoulShrink retreats with different opinions about how it could help them both.

There are some really great chapters full of retreat style activities (water rafting, trust activities, late night games and swims). I loved Joy’s character the most - no spoilers but I’d love to read a book where she was the main character! (With all of her crazy jumpers).

I would definitely recommend this to my criminology students who love a good suspense thriller book.

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When Jenna disappeared it was ruled a suicide, but some think it may be a little more than that.

Frans mum co'erces her onto a soul shrink retreat, run by the same people that were running the retreat where her sister went missing. They just want the truth. Fran feels bad she didnt take more time with her sister and is working through that regret and her own upbringing, and the wife of the retreat lead is worried that Fran is an under cover reported.

Like all of Taylors book I couldnt wait to read this, couldnt put it down, and was annoyed with myself for how quickly I read it. The characters were interesting, and some clues to who poeple were became obvious with hindsight. I was suprised by some things the characters did, and where and they impacted Jenna or Frans lives.

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I have recently read two upcoming CL Taylor books quite close to one another. One of them being The Island - Taylor's YA thriller, and then Her Last Holiday - which is her newest adult thriller offering. To say they are completely different would be an understatement. They both have Taylor's fantastic plotting and inevitable twists, and they are both written exceptionally well. But that is where the similarities end.

In HLH we meet Fran, who is still grieving the loss of her sister, Jenna. Jenna disappeared two years ago while on a retreat in Gozo. Fran finds herself at the retreat with the man who may or may not have had something to do with her sisters disappearance.

What follows is a rollercoaster ride of high energy, action packed thrills and you won't be disappointed if you pick this one up.

Fran's character is developed really well throughout the book. It feels like she really grows as a person the more she 'investigates' Jenna's disappearance. I wasn't keen on a lot of the secondary characters to begin with, they aren't all that likeable. But this is something I love in a book. It keeps you grounded - who likes everyone in real life?!

A life long fan of Taylor's work, this one will be coming home with me as soon as it is released. Congratulations Cally on another fantastic book.

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Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor is another gripping novel that does not disappoint! Fran’s younger sister, Jenna, disappeared 2 years ago while on a wellness retreat. The wellness host was sent to prison for 2 deaths that happened that weekend. Now that the retreat host has been released from prison, Fran wants to see if she can get more details on her sisters suicide by attending the retreat. Great read with many twists.

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Thank you NetGalley, C.L. Taylor, & Avon Books for the ARC.

This was my first time reading C.L. Taylor’s work, and I was impressed and will definitely be reading more.

The books tells the story of a woman and her search for her sister’s murder. There are countless twists and turns and it’ll definitely keep you on your toes.

You’ll be shocked by the end of the book! :)

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Thank you to netgalley for the oppurtunity to read her last holiday by the brilliant C.L Taylor. Having read all her previous books, i knew this would be as good as all her others. I wasnt disappointed. The story follows Fran on her mission to find out how and why her sister Jenna died. There was lots of suspense and of course a twist was added in for good measure. I was hooked from the beginning and i my attention was kept the whole way through as i wanted to find out what was going on. Another brilliant read from C.L Taylor.

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Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat, SoulShrink, in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade, whom we come to learn is the man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his 2 year sentence for the deaths of two people. Whilst he was imprisoned, his wife Kate has been busy planning the rest of their lives, a restart of SoulShrink - but will it have the same grizzly consequences?

Kate’s sister Fran books herself onto Tom’s upcoming retreat, wanting to face the man behind her sisters murder and to find out exactly what happened. The retreat isn’t all
It turned out to be, Fran learns more than she probably ever wanted too with regards to her sister, just exactly how did she die, or did she?

Told in the format of a then v now narration, the story jumps back and forth, reeling the reader in and along a lot of twisty, windy hops and skips within it. Not my favourite book of CL Taylor, but easy to read and keeps you guessing!

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Great story with lots of twists and turns throughout making you wonder if anyone is actually who/what they say they are!!

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4 STARS

This was my first read by C.L. Taylor, and I'm a fan now! This book was full of suspicious deaths, missing persons, secrets, crazy family members, and suspense! I liked the multiple POVs, and how the characters kept secrets and began to uncover everyone else's secrets for leverage...OMG!

It was a quick read with interesting characters. I enjoyed the mystery of the story, the suspense, and trying to figure out what was going on! I am adding this author to my watch list, and plan to read more from her in the future!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for sharing this digital copy with me in exchange my honest opinions. This book publishes in the US on April 29, 2021.

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I had so much fun reading this. It's a beautiful story about sibling's relationship and lost opportunities, while providing a clever commentary on the ins and outs of the wellness industry. I really empathised with C.L.Taylor's main character, Fran, but the author's deftness in characterisation means that she supplies us with a number of well rounded characters, as the narration shifts between three characters and over two timeframes (now and then, 2 years earlier). Rooted on the beautiful backdrop of Malta and Wales, the plot's twists and turns ensure you are unable to put the book down (I was literally reading this until the early hours every time I picked it up) – I also love how Taylor manages to balance tragedy with comedy - (certain comments and thoughts her characters made me laugh out loud).

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Wow! Another fantastic book from C.L Taylor. I was hooked from the start and it didn't take me long to read through.

I loved how the story would go back and forward through time, so you get the view from both.
The character base was just right, so you didn't get lost with who was who. This also made it good, to not be able to guess who was up to no good. I'm normally pretty good at guessing a plot, but I had no idea with this one.
Great ending, to the point I was in tears!

Great work, Cally!

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4.5 stars! I loved this twist turning book. So many twists and surprises. I will definitely be recommending this book on Goodreads! Thank you for this advanced copy of this book. I don’t think I’ve read by this author yet and I will definitely be looking for more. It was a fast and easy read and just the right length for this story.

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This is another really good book by this author. It’s original, intriguing and has lots of twists and turns.
The characters got a little confusing at stages due to the various name changes, however it was still an enjoyable read.

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C. L. Taylor never disappoints and “Her Last Holiday” is another smash. However, not only does Taylor never disappoint, she just keeps getting better too. This may be her most addictive novel yet! I was on the edge of my seat throughout and quite literally had to be forced to put it down. Dripping in tension, taut atmosphere and laden with interesting characters, this is thriller not to be missed.

Tom Wade and his wife Kate run SoulShrink, a therapeutic programme that offers self-help retreats. After two guests perish and another goes missing from one of these retreats, Tom is sent to prison and Kate is left trying to rebuild their tarnished lives. Fran’s sister Jenna is one the guests who didn’t return from that retreat and when Kate and Tom (newly released from prison) advertise a new retreat, Fran’s mother pleads for her to attend to find out what happened to Jenna. Adopting a false identity, Fran attends the retreat. Once there, nobody is quite who they seem and it will take all of Fran’s ingenuity to discover what Jenna’s fate was...

“Her Last Holiday” is an entirely gripping and masterfully plotted thriller. Taylor builds her narrative at a steady pace, creating an excellent sense of place, an atmosphere that crackles with tension and richly constructed characters. The narrative builds to a break-neck pace and the final third of the novel flies by, as it is simply impossible to put down. The story is told from three different perspectives (Fran’s, Jenna’s and Kate’s), across two timeframes (the previous Gozo retreat and the present day retreat), which helps to layer suspense, provide multiple shock twists and keep readers guessing until the final revelations are woven together. I loved that I could not predict what the conclusion to the story was going to be. As I started to piece together theories, Taylor adopted her usual trick of completely pulling the rug out from under me! There are so many surprises as the plot develops, which kept me turning pages well into the night. I was also really drawn into the suspense of the cat and mouse game between Fran and Kate. Taylor constructs so much tension around Fran’s presence at the retreat and Kate’s suspicions and investigations into her identity. There are a number of genuinely nail-biting sequences as Fran snoops around trying to find out the truth about Jenna and Kate similarly skulks around trying to catch Fran out. Similarly, the simmering romantic anticipation and subsequent tension that brews during the first retreat is written so well, drawing audiences into Jenna’s story and providing so many plausible theories for what may have happened to her.

As well as a tightly plotted thriller, “Her Last Holiday” is also an accomplished exploration of dysfunctional family relationships and particularly the feelings that can fester amongst siblings under the care of parents who essentially pit them against each other. The pressure on the younger sibling to not make the mistakes of the older sibling and the subsequent jealousy of the firstborn over the attention and favouritism that the younger sibling receives is perfectly traversed. Fran’s indifference to Jenna forms much of the guilt that she feels and spurs her on to discover the truth. Similarly, the toxic relationship with her mother and the ambivalence her father shows her has moulded Fran into the strong, independent, fiery woman she is. She has a strong moral compass and knows wrong from right (as evidenced in our first encounter with her), which makes her a refreshingly outspoken and powerful character. I instantly fell in love with her brashness and her commitment to saying exactly what she thinks. This countered her ability to covertly investigate Jenna’s disappearance in both a comical and frighteningly tense way at various points in the plot. What I enjoyed most about Fran’s story though, is the journey that she undertakes and the emotional impact that it has upon her. The experience and the conclusion to the story has a huge impact on her, allowing her to grow as a person and to ultimately heal. In fact, the impact on the entire family is both beautiful and poetic, whilst also being entirely plausible. After so much nerve-shredding suspense, I found this really joyful to read!

“Her Last Holiday” is a compelling and multi-layered mystery, with a rich tapestry of memorable characters and more twists than you could imagine. This is set to be one of 2021’s biggest reads - don’t miss it!

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Thanks so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book I loved Strangers Taylors previous book. This one is just as good & even though the characters are slightly annoying you can't help but to get sucked into their world. The plot is fast paced & the characters are credible. Another fantastic read from a better talented writer

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Although this starts out slowly, I found myself wanting to know what happens next. Fran’s sister committed suicide while on a self-care retreat. Fran and her parents have so many questions, because her sister’s body was never found. Fran finds herself signing up for a retreat with the same group and plunges herself into the group, trying to find answers, which include several twists and turns.

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This is the first of my Christmas reads. Which is really just a bunch of bboks I've set aside to read over Christmas break 😊. And what briliant one to start with. As always, C.L Taylor delivers a briliant, dark, twisty and mysterious thriller. The string and the characters were perfect too. This book has everything. Highly recommended xx

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The ending of this was so fantastic.. took me a bit to get into the story line at the beginning. Was a good first read to start the new year. Hasn't been the first for me from this author and will continue to enjoy books from her.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

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A real treat for me as I am reading this at Christmas! The book has a slow start, but the short chapters pull you along and the story takes off. It is quite a complicated format as it is told from three different points of view and over two time frames.such is the authors skill that this adds to the suspense and actually adds to the characterization. Her characters, even the minor ones are well rounded an believable. Of course the suspense continues to grow with clever twists along the way until the final unexpected revelation. I happily recommend this to mystery and thriller readers, an excellent read.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

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This was an enthralling read with so many twists and turns. I did not like the first few pages and put it away for a few days and then came back to it. I then read it in one go as needed to know how it ended.

I hadn't read this author before but had heard a lot about her books and so she was on my to be read list.

This is definitely well worth a read and I am now off to explore more books by this author as the hype is warranted.

Not doing a plot summary as this has been done much better than me in other reviews and by the publisher. Do yourself a favour and put this in your to be read pile.

I was given an advance copy by the publisher and netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review which I have done so.

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I needed this! I was in a book slump. First, I was totally engrossed the whole way through the story. Every part was interesting and important. There was no useless fluff to make the storyline longer.

Second, wow. There were so many characters! The author made it easy to keep track of who was who (when you realized some have changed their names). There was also a lot of character development in a lot of the characters, especially Fran throughout the story.

Third, what a brilliant storyline idea. I personally have never read anything like it and found it so very interesting. I did not guess who the “villain” was, and even then, did not guess the true ending.

5/5 stars and would highly recommend this book!

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Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fran's sister, Jenna, disappeared at a wellness retreat 2 years ago. She presumably committed suicide at the same time 2 other retreat participants were killed. Tom, the retreat leader was charged and spent 2 years in jail. Now that he is out, his wife, Kate the true brains behind the retreat has scheduled another retreat. Fran's mother booked herself onto the retreat to get answers answers about Jenna's disappearance but can't attend due to an injury and sends a reluctant Fran in her place.

This was told from the points of view of Kate and Fran in present day and Jenna at the retreat. Overall I enjoyed it, as I have all of this author's previous books. It moved along pretty well, there were plenty of oddball characters that could have been guilty and I did not see the ending coming.

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Another fantastic book from C.L. Taylor. Tom Wade, a motivational speaker and joint owner with his wife Kate of SoulShrink, are hosting a retreat in Snowdonia. Tom has recently been released from prison after two people died in a tragic accident at a retreat in Gozo two years earlier. Kate has been working hard on recovering the business and moving forward in a positive way despite Tom’s incarceration. It doesn’t go quite as smoothly as Kate hopes but she is not for giving up.

Fran’s sister, Jenna, disappeared at the Gozo retreat. Fran has been told it was likely her sister took her own life but no body has been found. Geri, the mother of Fran and Jenna, booked a place on the Snowdonia retreat in the hope of finding out the truth about what happened to Jenna. Geri can't face going so cajoles Fran into going and using her name so Fran can remain anonymous.

The book is told over two timescales – now and two years earlier – and from the viewpoints of Fran, Jenna and Kate. As with all C L Taylor there are many twists and turns along the way with a good pace that keeps you wanting to just read a bit more before putting it down. It was really well paced and I liked the ending.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Her Last Holiday by CL Taylor is a suspenseful, mystery-thriller with a fantastic ending! It is the third book I’ve read by Ms. Taylor and each one is better than the last. I’m loving her writing more and more.

The characters are varied, interesting and well developed. I liked some, detested others, and that is one of the characteristics of a great novel. I enjoyed that there were many characters adding to the storyline, each with their own motives and secrets. And through her fluid, easy manner of writing, it was not difficult to follow each character through the different timelines.

The ending was superb! True to form, it was unexpected. It was brilliant. And in hindsight it was completely right.

#herlastholiday #cltaylor #netgalley #avonbooks

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It has been a while since I read a Cally Taylor book. I got introduced to her and her books on the Facebook group The Book club. She writes brilliant books and I don't know why it has taken me so long to return to her books.
I liked the different points of view in the book as it allowed us to get to know the characters a little better. We are introduced to a whole cast of characters some likeable and some not so likeable. Fran is trying to figure out what really happened to her sister two years ago and this book takes us on a journey of unexpected twists in finding out the truth.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a nice thriller to enjoy.

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You can always guarantee a good thriller with Cally Taylor and this one is no exception. I'm not going to go on any retreats of holidays with her mind. She has a twisty mind! Haha it works really well here as this novel has you gasping for breath and ringing your hands. If you read this at an actual retreat I think it would make you leave or at least look around at your fellow guests.

Blimey. 2020's last read went off with a bang!

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"Her last holiday" is a slow burn thriller with lots of unexpected twists in it. The books starts off really strong but in the middle it kind of loses steam. It picks up the pace and bombards us by the end of it. The language used in the book is articulate. The narration is from multiple POV's written in the first person.

The story revolves around two sisters, Fran and Jenna who are separated by an age gap of 12 years. The book starts off three years after the death of one sister Jenna by suicide. Jenna had gone to a retreat called Soulshrink lead by the enigmatic Tom Wade. In that particular retreat 3 people had died, 2 due to a negligence in one of the excercises and Jenna by suicide. But Jenna's body was never found.

Her family is still not at peace after all these years and to make things worse, Tom Wade is released from jail. After he comes out, he picks up right where he left off and arranges another retreat. Fran's mom forces her to go on this retreat and find out the truth behind Jenna's death. Fran decides to go undercover and unravel the mystery. What will happen during the retreat? Will she reveal more than she bargained for? How many more people will get hurt in this quest for justice? Read to find out.

The ending was really something great. I loved the ending. Though, some parts of it was unrealistic. It was still quite thrilling. Recommending this one to all thriller lovers. The book will be out in April, 2021. Make this your first of 2021!

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First of all I’m a huge fan of C.L Taylor’s books. I’m always in a dilemma,part of me wants to take my time saviour the experience, but as soon as I get started I end up hooked and reading it in one sitting!! There are worse dilemmas I guess!!!

Fran’s sister Jenna went missing two years ago while she was on a wellness retreat at Gozo, the police told them she may have committed suicide but her mother wants answers and pushes Fran to go to Wales on a wellness retreat.

She meets the couple Kate and Tom who ran the retreat in Gaza along with three others who were also there. Surely someone will know what happened to Jenna?

The story is told in 2 timelines, the present and back when Jenna was at the retreat.

This story kept me captive from the first page until the end. I love how the suspense slowly builds and I would never have guessed the ending.

A brilliant book that I would highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

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Another great book by C.L. Taylor. Like her previous books I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t read it quick enough. It’s sort of a cross between a mystery book and a psychological thriller. A few twists thrown into the suspenseful storyline make for a great read. I highly recommend this book and author.

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I read this book in one sitting. SO GOOD! I could not put it down. So suspenseful and some unexpected twists that made the story that much better. I even went back and re-read a few pages to see if I could catch the twist coming. Taylor's writing is just captivating and I'm so excited to read more!

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I will start by saying that I am a big fan of C.L. Taylor's. Sleep was one of my favourite books of 2020 and I also really enjoyed Strangers. So I was really excited to see what she had done next with Her Last Holiday.
I particularly enjoyed the use of three narrators, as this gave you insight into the story from three pivotal perspectives.
It also had a really interesting plot and didn't feel particularly farfetched at all, as some other books can in this genre.
Tom as a character was especially intriguing and I found myself in Fran's shoes, trying to figure out what happened to Jenna and on the day that two other people had died.
Something that did irritate me was the amount of pseudonyms or alias names that were used throughout.
I understand that this was part of the plot, with many of the characters inhabiting a new name following the sweat retreat. But when you then add Fran and Caroline also using assumed names but also changing back and forth between their real names and fake names and it all got a bit much.
I also felt like Jenna felt/acted a lot younger than she actually was when she disappeared. I would easily have said that she was in her early to mid twenties, because of the way that she acted, instead of being in her late thirties.
The ending also wasn't as strong as it could have been for me. And it was a bit of an anticlimactic twist in the end.
Her Last Holiday is still one of the better books that I've read in this genre and I can't wait to read what C.L. Taylor does next.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I enjoyed this book and found it to be very engaging. It centers primarily on Fran, who joins a wellness retreat to try to figure out what happened to her sister Jenna, who disappeared on a similar trip over 2 years prior. You also get chapters from Jenna's perspective before her disappearance, and from Kate, the wife and business partner of Tom, who runs the retreats. I am a fan of alternating perspectives throughout a book and thought that it was interesting to see how various situations were seen from the different POVs.

I liked Fran and found her to be a realistic character- she was trying to investigate what happened to Jenna but is not a detective, thus she makes a lot of mistakes. There is also personal growth throughout the book, as she explores her relationship with Jenna and the rest of her family, as well as reflects on her current lifestyle. Some reviewers said there were plot lines left unresolved, but I actually think that was done purposely, allowing the reader to make their own decisions about the true motivations of some of the characters. The ending was tied up maybe a bit too cleanly, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who like mysteries and domestic suspense. I liked the other book I read by Taylor as well, and am planning on picking up a couple other books by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Motivational speaker and mental health guru Tom Wade was nicknamed the Soul Shrink on social media for his ability to heal trauma. After two people died at one of his popular spiritual retreats in Gozo, his career was destroyed and he was jailed. Now, two years on, Tom has been released and plans to hold another retreat, this time in Snowdonia. Fran’s younger sister, Jenna, disappeared at the tragic Gozo retreat and now she wants to know the truth about what happened.

Although this story is told from multiple points of view, the main protagonist is Fran. Fran is an IT teacher in her fifties who is struggling after Jenna’s disappearance and presumed suicide. She has intense feelings of guilt after she brushed her sister off during their last conversation and she wishes she could make things right. Fran is a prickly character and her bluntness adds some humour to scenes throughout the book. The last thing she wants is to be near the man she blames for her sister’s death but after being emotionally blackmailed by her controlling mother, she agrees to attend Tom’s new retreat in an attempt to find out what happened to Jenna.

Kate, Tom’s wife, is ambitious and ruthless. She is determined to help make Soul Shrink a success and move on from the controversy caused by Tom’s prison sentence. She is constantly paranoid about her and Tom's lives being shattered again and is determined not to let anyone take away what she has rebuilt.

The past timeline of this story is told from Jenna's perspective. It gives some background to the tragic events that happened in Gozo and further explores Jenna's character. Both timelines are interesting and as some of the past characters also appear in the present timeline, it helps the reader to learn more about them.

The real strength of this novel is the attention to character development. Each character is drawn in such depth and even minor characters feel realistic and nuanced. Each person has complex motivations for their actions and although some of the characters are unlikeable, the reader can see how they became that way.

The plot is not disadvantaged by the character-driven nature of this book. The chapters are short, full of twists and turns, characters lying to one another and unsettling events that raise a number of questions. Several themes add depth to the narrative: toxic family relationships, mental health and emotional exploitation are all explored here. I have read some of C L Taylor’s previous novels and enjoyed them and this new release didn’t disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC.

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I really enjoyed this book - I was hooked from the outset. The plot moved quickly and the characters draw you in

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This is a story that flicks between past with Jenna when she arrives at the retreat in Gonzo and present day with her sister Fran joining a retreat run by the same people but this time in Wales. I liked the difference between the two settings as it goes to show you don’t need to travel abroad for stunning views.

The retreat is ran by Tom and Kate. Tom has not long got out of prison and is struggling with events from the past. You can tell that Kate is very much the driving force behind the retreat and she is hell determined in making sure that everything goes well, as well as getting some much needed money in the bank.

Over the course of the story we get to know some of the characters at the retreats better. They aren’t the most likable of characters. I was kind of suspicious about quite a few of them. It all adds to the suspense though of what really did happen to Jenna of which there were some good twists that I definitely didn’t see coming.

Her Last Holiday is a book that has it all. Scenic locations, a gripping storyline and unexpected twists and turns. All in all it makes it an unputdownable read as I raced through it to see just what did happen to Jenna. Another great read from the queen of psychological thrillers.

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I have come to expect something special from this author and I’m glad to say that this definitely did not disappoint. The plot was good and the story just kept giving. It goes between two sisters, Fran and Jenna, one who has disappeared, presumed a suicide, and the other trying to find out the truth, especially when she is told it was murder. All the characters are well thought out and have their own personalities. Their mother Geraldine is a nightmare! There are quite a few twists, red herrings and I was kept guessing right through. I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t stop reading. Thank you NetGalley.

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I loved this book, I absolutely couldn't put it down and finished it in less than a day! I had read a few of the authors books a few years ago and enjoyed them, and this was no different. The chapters were told in multiple points of view and were short which left me flipping the pages and unable to stop. I was always disappointed when one chapter ended and it flipped to another POV, but only because each chapter left me wanting more of that character's story. I would finish Jenna's chapter to move on to Fran's wanting more of Jenna's story but then at the end of Fran's story wanting more or hers, it was a vicious cycle(in a good way). Highly recommend this book for a quick/fast paced read with well written characters

I need to circle back to the few books that I missed!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Avon for this advanced reading copy

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Fran is a school teacher in her early fifties. Her Mother still controls aspects of her life. Her sister, Jenna, disappeared almost 3 years ago whilst on a retreat overseas and is presumed to have committed suicide. On that same retreat, two other participants died and the organiser, Tom, was jailed for his part in their deaths.

Tom has now been released from prison and his wife Kate wants to recreate the brand they started and organise more seminars and retreats. Fran’s Mother, Geraldine, gets wind of this and emotionally blackmails Fran into attending the next retreat in Wales in order to try to find out what Tom knows about Jenna’s disappearance. Fran does so incognito but will she discover the truth about her sister or is she in danger herself?

Another fantastic book by C.L. Taylor and one I stayed up until the wee small hours to finish. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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A clever use of two time sequences, unreliable narrators and intriguing characters kept me glued to this novel. Fran is seeking the real answer to how her sister died at a retreat and the only way to get to the truth is for Fran to go undercover at a follow up retreat run by the same two people with several of the same attendees. Fran quickly discovers she is not prepared for this emotional coaster roller and is completely overwhelmed with grief, anger and fear yet stays as she promised her mother. A massive twist happens and the answers are satisfying, unexpected and thoroughly surprising.

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I have read a few of C.L.Taylors books and have loved them. I got stuck into this one and it was so easy to get settled in. The story flowed, nice short chapters and easy to get to know who was who. The only thing I think that was different in this one compared to the rest was the ending, it wasn't what I was expecting and think was totally different to how her other books have gone. It was a nice change and changed my views on a few characters as well

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This was an exceptional book surrounding the death of Jenna at a SoulShrink retreat on the island of Gozo. The storyline was extremely captivating and the pace was steady until we ventured further into the dark and twisted chapters once the pace was set. The book allows us into the lives of Jenna, her sister Fran and Kate, Toms wife’s. Who is Tom I hear you ask. He is the lynchpin that holds it all together. We are party to events on Gozo two years previously and also the present day when Fran attends another SoulShrink retreat in North Wales to try and find out what actually led to the death of her sister. This was a very refreshing book to read, so different, thankfully, to the masses that are published at the moment where the prologue features a young woman who is held captive, is beaten and in hiding, is running away, the list could go on and on, and publishers try to entice us in by constantly telling us that if we enjoyed Gone Girl or Girl on a Train, then we will enjoy this too. Such a relief to escape from all that and immerse oneself into this brilliant piece of writing. When is her next one due out, I need more by this incredible author.

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Fran’s sister is missing presumed dead. Jenna disappeared three years ago following a retreat in Malta. Fran has felt guilt since about not being there when her sister needed her. When their domineering mother sees a retreat run by the same organisation, she forces Fran to go with a view to finding out what she can about the disappearance.
And so, the madness begins. Kate and Tom, who run the company have their issues with each other and everyone else. This is the first retreat in three years, and she needs it to go well. Fran soon realises the dangers involved in the outdoor trust exercises and is struggling to get any of the information she came for.
There is never a dull moment in Her Last Holiday. If you need to wonder if any of this story is likely, then you are reading the wrong book. That said, it is well written and well researched, just in the event that this series of events could actually occur. I enjoyed the ride and am grateful to Netgalley UK and Avon Books UK

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What a great read! I've come to expect solid storylines and well woven threads throughout from C.L. Taylor and this book did not disappoint. The right amount of mystery, thriller and intrigue to create a very enjoyable 4 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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During a spiritual retreat hosted by the enigmatic SoulShrink Tom Wade, two people die and one goes missing. This terrible tragedy lands Tom in jail.
Fran's sister, Jenna, is the one who went missing, and Fran blames herself for not being there for her emotionally fragile sister. Maybe if she had been, Jenna wouldn't have went on the retreat.

Two years later, Tom is released from prison and hosting another spiritual retreat.
Due to her mother's insistence and the weight of her own guilt, Fran decides to join the retreat and find out exactly what happened to Jenna all those years ago.

This story is more than meets the eye!
I thought it'd be a fast-paced psychological thriller about a charismatic cult leader. And while it is, it's so much more meaningful than that. It was also a poignant exploration of emotional manipulation, toxic family relationships and acceptance.

But perhaps the most captivating aspect of this story is the rich and complex characterization. All the characters (including side characters) are well displayed with strong emotional depth and character growth.

This is the most well-written and engaging book I've read in awhile.
Highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I really enjoy C.L Taylor books and yet to read one I didn’t enjoy so I was eagerly looking forward to this one. Another excellent gripping novel that will have you racing through the pages to find out what is going to happen.

Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared two years ago on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong. The man behind the retreats, Tom Wade was recently released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people. But he has never let on what happened to the third victim, Jenna.

Fran is desperate to uncover the truth and books herself onto the retreat under a pseudonym so that she can come face to face with Tom Wade and find out what really happened to her sister. There is a lot of emotion surrounding the events of two years ago and a desire for the truth to remain hidden.

The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

The 400 pages in this book go so quickly due to the fact you will be unable to put the book down. Fascinating characters, good twists and a suspenseful finale.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Avon Books UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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This is my very first waltz with the author! Suspicious deaths, missing sister at a wellness retreat, mental gurus or charlatans with deep secrets, dysfunctional family members who are obsessed to know what really happened the daughter/ sister, narrated by three different vivid women characters, alternating between past and present: this formula truly worked for me!

Here are our three POVs: middle aged Fran is still haunted from her sister’s memory who has been missing for two years. She attended to wellness retreat in Gozo but so many things went dangerously wrong! Thanks to the pressure and guilt tripping of her miserable parents who lost rest of their sanities after sudden disappearance of their young daughter, Fran attends to the same retreat because the same health guru couple Tom and Kate reopen the place after Tom has been set free from two years long prison time.

As she digs more about the past, she gets more tangle into web of lies. ( did I tell you there were so many spooky supporting characters in this book act like innocent but keeping their own secret agendas to themselves?)

Jenna is the sweet sister who attended the retreat where so many strange and unexplainable things started to occur incessantly as like she’s been trapped into a classic claustrophobic Christie story!

And Kate is the wife and resilient assistant of Tom who tries to keep together after murder accusations ruined their lives financially and mentally. She works hard to manage their ruined reputation but it’s not gonna be so easy and her lovely husband is not such a good help when he’s still stuck with the memories of Jenna.

You keep asking yourself as you observe several counseling sessions of these health gurus: are they conmen or are they really talented soul shakers who help the people get through their mental problems?

Both of the characters keep secrets and as they discover more lies of each other’s, they never hesitate to use them as leverage. It was a truly entertaining to be witnessed of their power game as if watching a challenging tennis game !

Overall: it was one of my quickest read with very unique and well developed characters! I think I enjoyed spending my time in their heads more than reading the mystery part of the story!

I’m giving four mysterious, dangerous retreat, lies, games, hidden agendas, delicious twist stars!

I’m so happy this book put this brilliant author on my radar. I cannot wait to read the lord works of her.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

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This book was really good. Lots of misdirection and suspense. I’m a recent reader of this author and I am going to read all the books in the back catalogue. This author is quickly becoming one of my favourites.

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Amazing story. Well developed characters that are in a twisted engrossing thriller. Highly recommended. Super suspense that comes to a satisfying end! Highly recommended . A true roller coaster thrill ride

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As always, this author totally brings the atmospheric thriller to its peak! The heroine is trying to solve the mystery of what had happened to her sister while on a retreat, and is not afraid of the dangers in her path...

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Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Fran's sister Jenna disappeared mire than two years ago after attending a retreat. T om who was recently released from jail is a person of interest in her disappearance. The list of suspects keeps growing. This book kept me guessing from the beginning.

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A slow burning thriller which centres on two sisters . Their upbringing has been strange and the relationship with their parents is strained. The younger sister disappears during a retreat abroad. The investigation concludes that she committed suicide, but the grieving family have doubts about this. The retreat is run by a couple, he is attractive and appealing , she does the running around and lots of social media. The group on the retreat when Jenna disappears is diverse .. Some of the activities are extreme and all in all you get the impression that it is a bit like a cult . The death of a couple during an activity adds to this feeling and the male half of the couple ends up in prison for what happened.
Fran, the older sister is summoned ny her parents and told to find out more about what happened to her sister. They have booked her on to a retreat in Wales, the first one for 3 years (after Tom is released from prison) , under another name. Not ideal, she is not a talker and although she becomes aware that some of the group members were at the same retreat as her sister , no one will discuss it . This retreat involves mountain activities, canoing etc. Something is off though and she (and another group member who is a journalist in disguise) get the impression that some one wants them dead. I liked Fran and Caroline's cynical attitude to what happened at the retreat.
A couple of twists in the story as it reaches it's conclusion . Suspense is built up and towards the end I could not put the book down. In the earlier parts of the book I found it slow going.
Thank you to Net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

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Frans sister Jenna disappeared two years ago from a wellness retreat in Malta. The police ruled it a suicide. Tom Wade the face of Soul Shrink retreat was convicted of gross negligence, two other people died that day under his care. After serving two years he is released from prison. Tom has never revealed what happened to Jenna his third victim.

Frans’ not convinced. Jenna didn’t kill herself. When she learns Tom is back to hosting wellness retreats. (I mean what? How is this guy not banned?)She knows she needs to go, confront Tom, get the truth of what happened to her sister.

Registering under a false name, Fran goes to the retreat the more secrets and lies she uncovers she unknowingly puts herself as risk of never returning home.

The book switches between the past and present – Jenna’s time at the retreat and the present with Fran. There are a lot of unlikable characters in this book, its laced with dysfunctional families, obsession, domineering personalities and creepy creepertons a plenty. The narrative is pretty twisted. This is a slow burn; the ending was a little underwhelming for me. I was so invested in the book and was looking for something more sinister.

Still very enjoyable read, Cally is an auto-buy author for me, I will pick up anything she writes.

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CL Taylor's books are always deliciously readable. I seem to fly through them, and this one was no exception. The mystery kept me guessing, and even when I thought I *had* guessed something, well, I wasn't quite right! So that's always enjoyable. I also really grew to like the character of Fran too, and the slow untangling of the story kept me hooked.

I didn't love it quite as much as her last book, Strangers, but I think that may have been down to my own mental state whilst reading more than anything as it's still very cleverly plotted and written.

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I was so excited to receive an early read copy of CL Taylor’s newest book. I have several of her books on my TBR shelf waiting for me. I am a huge fan and I was not disappointed. This was a twisty story about a past disappearance. I loved the time line switching back and forth between the past and present day. Without giving too much away, I highly recommend this book and this author. Can’t wait to read the next one. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the early release copy.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was gripped from the first page and was eager to find out what happened next. Good characters with personal problems I was keen to learn more about - I love the psychology of how people become who they are, how their history has shaped them into the people they are today. C L Taylor has delivered yet another great psychological thriller.

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What a twisted web C.L. Taylor has spun for us to unweave.

This book is told by 3 narrators focusing on the now and the past (2 years ago) with some overlap.

The book begins nice and slow, introducing us to Kate (the power behind SoulShrink and the wellness retreats) and sisters Jenna and Fran.

Jenna attended a retreat 2 years ago, never to return. Police deemed it a suicide. Her sister Fran is unconvinced and is persuaded by her mom to attend one of the retreats herself to dig and find out the truth about what happened to Jenna.

I really appreciated all the character development and loved how the conflict unfolded in this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC I’m exchange for my honest review.

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Her Last Holiday is the latest psychological thriller from brilliant mind of CL Taylor.
An excellently written, character driven story that weaves events from the past and the present together to form the narrative of how Jenna disappeared nearly three years ago and the mysterious events surrounding her disappearance. The police in Gozo were convinced that Jenna committed suicide but her family believes otherwise and now, her elder sister Fran is attending a similar retreat to Jenna and is determined to find the truth. Several of the people from the original retreat are attending with Fran but as the story is narrated by three different women, with opposing points of view, that are plenty of twists to come and some truly exciting revelations. With manipulation and self-preservation at the centre of most actions, this story is a rollercoaster ride from start to finish and Taylor has done a excellent job by creating a twisty narrative to build up the tension and keep the reader on their toes.
In summary: a must read for fans and if you enjoy a well crafted thriller, with tension and twists, this is one for you.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with an advance copy in return for an honest review.

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I'm a big fan of this author and have read all her work to date, so I was grateful to receive an ARC of this book for an honest review. I'll be honest, it wasn't as fast paced as her other works, and it took me a bit of effort to stick with it. But there is mystery from the off and I found Tom and Kate particularly intriguing. A good read overall, and I will always look forward to future releases from this writer.

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I really enjoyed this book. Based upon a retreat for people who need to find themselves and move away from their troubled pasts it is less than tranquil when 3 people are dead. One of them is the main characters sister who goes on the next retreat to uncover what really happened to her sister. Good plot, good development of characters and when you think the end is near more keeps on coming. A great read

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When Fran’s younger sister, Jenna, disappeared on a retreat it broke an already fractured family even further apart. The retreat leader, Tom, and his wife Kate are trying to rebuild their life after his jail sentence for the death of two other people on the retreat and when they start a new business Fran is posing as a widow to find out what happened to her sister. Told by Fran, Jenna and Kate this is one gripping book!
I really enjoyed this and found myself really hooked by it, thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for this honest review.

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How nice it is to read a thriller from the POV of three women with their own distinctive voices, good character arcs, and not running around being overly emotional and silly.
They're not all likeable characters but I found them to be good characters and that was my favourite thing about this book 🙂

𝙁𝙍𝘼𝙉 - two years ago, during a wellness retreat, her sister Jenna died under suspicious circumstances. It was labeled suicide but Fran needs answers so she's attending the latest retreat by the same self-help guru as Jenna did.

𝙆𝘼𝙏𝙀 - manages and organizes the retreats. Her husband Tom is the guru but she's the woman behind the man and she knows how to pull the strings.

𝙅𝙀𝙉𝙉𝘼 (2 years ago) - heartbroken by some recent developments in her life she hopes Tom and Kate's retreat will fix her.

Her Last Holiday takes its time to pick up speed. First it builds it's base and makes sure the reader is cozy but it often drops little hints at what's to come and then the pace starts moving faster.

Also, lots of characters in this book!
There's the group that attended Jenna's retreat PLUS the group in Fran's retreat.
Some overlap but I still had one or two '𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵.... 𝘸𝘩𝘰'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯?' moments. Making notes would have helped ✒📒🙈

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 29 /2021

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This was the first adult C.L. Taylor book I have read and I am going to read the back catalogue now. A great suspense thriller.

Her Last Holiday follows Fran as she books herself onto a self help retreat run by the man responsible for the dissapearance of her sister 18 months previously. It's filled with great characters and some fab twists. Took a little while to get in to but I'm glad I kept going as the story unravelled faster in the second half and before I knew it I was finished.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read and review.

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Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an incredible way to start off the new year, Her last holiday had a steady pace throughout with some exceptionally written characters.

The three main characters – Fran, Jenna and Kate were all vibrant and lifelike, some likeable and others not. For me Jenna was 100% likeable, she had been dealt a really rough hand but still remained a good person. Fran in the beginning seemed cold and uninterested in everything and everyone but by the end her demeanour had completely changed and she became a lot more likeable, but Kate however was vile and vindictive throughout.

I loved the authors writing style, how the book was separated by the then and now chapters, I thought it really broke up the story, which progressed perfectly. It had me gripped by the end of the first chapter, remained at a steady pace throughout until the end part which left me with my head spinning.

This was another fantastic book written by C.L Taylor which I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend you to go and pre-order now. 😊

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"Her Last Holiday" is the story of Fran, whose younger sister Jenna is missing, presumed dead, after attending a spiritual retreat in which two other people died. The handsome and charismatic retreat leader, Tom, was sent to prison for his role in the deaths, but now he's out, and Fran - or more accurately, Fran's mother Geraldine - wants answers about what happened to Jenna.

When Tom and his wife Kate advertise another retreat, Geraldine books a place for Fran to attend so that she can do some digging and try to find out once and for all what happened to her sister. Using Geraldine's identity, Fran is soon ensconced in a Snowdonian farmhouse with several other attendees, some of whom were at the ill-fated retreat where her sister went missing. Can Fran found out what happened to her sister? Or is someone intent on keeping that secret for good, no matter what it takes?

I really enjoyed this twisty, well-written thriller. It's well-paced, and I liked that it was told from two perspectives - Fran's in the present and Jenna's in the past - so that we got to see the whole story unravel. I also didn't guess the final twist, so bonus points for that! Would recommend this one - I loved the spiritual retreat aspect which gave it an original angle, and I liked that the characters were well developed and believable.

Thank you to NetGalley, and to the publisher, who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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C L Taylor is a go to author for me, I've enjoyed every book she's written. Whilst not my favourite, Her Last Holiday is a thrilling read with a great plot which keeps you hooked and a satisfying twist at the end.
4 stars

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Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor was my first by this author but won't likely be the last.

I found this novel engaging and gripping but the downside was that I couldn't quite get into Jenna's mindset since I'm a bit dubious about self-help kind of things. I think those that are deep into it may get more from this book.

I feel it drug a bit during the story building but the awesome character of Fran made up for it. She's not your likely heroine (older single woman, no romantic storyline here) but is a badass none the less!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

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Disaster strikes a self help Guru's retreat leaving two read and one other missing. As the leader of the retreat leaves a short prison sentence he sets about organising a new venture. Among the first recruits are the sister of the missing person and an investigative journalist, both determined to find out what happened. Great story told through the eyes of three main characters.

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Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, I am a regular reader of this author and this book had many turns and lots of tension. I loved the ending and could of had added epilogue to it. I fully recommend this book great edgy suspense tense novel

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It took me a little bit to get into this book but when I did I really got invested. Switching back and forth between past and present the reader follows multiple characters on a wellness journey.

I was a little sad that I guessed the correct ending pretty early on into the book. But that didn’t turn me off from finishing the book. There were still so many small details to get and I enjoyed continuing to piece them together.

My favorite character was Fran. She was definitely rough around the edges at the start of the book. By the end I feel like Fran had blossomed and I loved following her journey. Fran and Jenna (sisters) struggled with a dysfunctional family situation which I found relatable. I also found the self help aspect of this story interesting!

This was my first C.L. Taylor book and I am looking forward to reading more!

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I was hooked from the beginning and i my attention was kept the whole way through as i wanted to find out what was going on.
All the characters are well thought out and have their own personalities
This was a great book. It was very well written. And a quick weekend read.

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Wow, this one was fantastic!! I just knew that it was going to be an amazing thriller and the suspense was there the whole novel!

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A little slow paced but still a great story. I quite enjoyed the characters and the story plot. It was a good read during the lockdown!

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Jenna went to Gozo in Malta to a retreat to find herself after some distressing news. She never returned with the police ruling suicide. Tom, the leader of retreat has been released from prison for the manslaughter of 2 other members of the retreat. Toms wife Kate arranges another retreat and enna's sister Fran is sent to by their mother to find out what happened to Jenna.
Ive read a few of CLTaylors books and I love them for the great storylines. She us very good at keeping the reader interested in where the story is going and this book is no exception.
I received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review

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A well written plot and character development - this was a page turner that made me want to see what else the author has available to read.

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I'm a big CL Taylor fan so was super excited to read this ahead of release. Two years ago, a woman named Jenna went missing presumed dead from a wellness retreat. The organiser of the retreat was jailed and held responsible for two other deaths at the same retreat and this book starts just as Tom is released from jail. His wife convinces him to run another retreat to try and make up for the money he lost during his sentence. Looking for answers, Jenna's sister Fran enrolls on the course. I found this a fun read and the ending definitely kept me guessing. It's well written and holds your attention throughout. Would definitely recommend!

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What a rollercoaster ride. Twisty, turny. Just when you think you have the characters figured out, you don’t. A clever, intricate plot. A fantastic read.

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I have liked all of the books I've read by C.L. Taylor, Her Last Holiday is no exception. It's a great psychological thriller. It's an easy read, nothing too heavy, but had few twists I don't see coming! The premise is one sister (Jenna) goes missing under cloudy circumstances during a spiritual retreat led by a self help guru (Tom) and a few years later her older sister (Fran) goes to a similar retreat led by none other then Tom I'm hopes to finally find out what really happened to her sister. If you like Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapeña and B A Paris this will be right up your alley.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Once again C L Taylor had me totally engrossed, a good storyline and again the twist at the end was so unexpected.
At first a couple of the characters were hard to like but that made the retreat setting a bit more realistic.
Look forward to reading more of her books.
Thank you Netgalley

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This was a great book.

It was an unpredictable thriller in a health retreat setting. I enjoyed the multiple POV's from different characters, some likeable and some not so much.

I got through this book quite quickly, I couldn't put it down.

I definitely recommend this one to those who are fans of psychological thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ebook via Netgalley

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‘Her Last Holiday’ -C.L Taylor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 4.5 stars
“You come to Soul Shrink to heal. You don’t expect to die.”

Shrouded in mystery, a young girl’s apparent suicide in picturesque Gozo causes irreparable wounds to her family: older sister Fran (under considerable duress from her emotionally devoid mother) agrees to visit Tom and Kate’s wellness retreat ‘Soul Shrink’- where her sister had met her demise three years prior.

This time the location is different (set in Wales) but the deceit, corruption and manipulation is ever prevalent... seeping it’s way into the visitors, grasping hold of their sense of logic and rationality, refusing to let go.

Will Fran get the answers she so longingly desires? Someone must know the truth behind what happened to Jenna?

Superb, tantalisingly tense writing by C.L Taylor- told predominantly through three female characters within two contrasting time frames- ‘then’ and ‘now’. You’ll never see it coming...

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books UK for the opportunity to receive this psychological-thriller ARC.

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This is the first book I have read by this author and it held my attention immensely. I thought I had everything figured out, but then I was proven wrong...twice! I was definitely anxious to get to the end to see who did what to whom and why. Right to the last page, it did not diappoint!

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I am a huge fan of C L Taylor’s novels and was thrilled to have a chance to read her latest before it was published. The story starts of slow,, but by the end, you will be dying to know who did what. I thought I knew how the story was going, but like all her novels there was a twist you won’t see coming. I look forward to reading her next novel.

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Fran goes to Gozo to attempt to find out the circumstances of her sister’s death but who to trust?
Interesting characters and intriguing storyline that I have come to expect from this author. A compelling read

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I really like this author so when I saw she had a new book out I had to read it. If you like a good thriller with lots of mystery then you'll love this book.

Frank's sister Henna went missing on a retreat, she's presumed dead but no body has been found. When the man responsible for other deaths at the retreat is released from prison and sets up a brand new retreat, Fran decides to go and find out what happened.

Another brilliant thriller from a great author. I'd highly recommend this.

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"You come to Soul Shrink to be healed. You don’t expect to die“
One to play with your head and spin you around- perfect! Fran is on a retreat at her mothers behest. The man running itTom Wade was let out of prison 9 months ago having been convicted of two deaths on one of his retreats in Gozo. At the same time Fran’s sister Jenna went missing, presumed dead. Fran has gone under an assumed name and her mother has insisted that the only way to get to truth is to confront Tom and see his reaction when Jenna is mentioned. On the first night there Fran receives a note addressed to her real name informing her that Jenna didnt commit suicide as the police thought but was murdered. Someone knows her real identity and more about Jenna.
This draws you in and keeps you there. A mystery as well as a thriller. That air of suspense and whodunnit, brilliantly written as ever. My view of whodunnit changed as I went through (and was totally wrong) something I enjoy to keep the grey matter active. A suspenseful read right until the very end. We get alternate chapters from Jenna and Kate (Tom's wife) in the past at Gozo and various other characters in the present. Each chapter is entitled with a name and time frame making this easy to follow. Guru or charlatan, wife or employee, friend or foe? A captivating gripping read to make you challenge everyone in the story.

(rest of links on publication)

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This book was addictive and exciting because I really had no idea where it was going. I really enjoyed the three perspectives which helped build suspense, particularly towards the last section of the book. I do think the ending was a little anticlimactic, which was a shame, because the plot itself felt so unique and not at all expected. It was also less sinister than I anticipated and more focused on the relationships between the characters. However I enjoyed the unexpected direction the story took.

Overall a good book which I found very easy to get stuck into.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Her Last Holiday by @cltaylorauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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When young Jenna visits a retreat in a desperate bid to “find herself” she finds herself caught up with the hosts who are not all as they seem. Jenna subsequently disappears and it is ruled as suicide. Not satisfied with these answers, older sister Fran books herself into the same retreat (although the location is now in wales) where the same deceit and manipulation is occurring. Will Fran and her family get the answers they deserve?
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Another expertly written novel from Taylor which effortlessly slips between the main characters and two time period of ‘then’ and ‘now’. Definitely one to add to your TBR pile.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books U.K. for this ARC

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Loved this book, C.L Taylor sure knows how to keep the twists and turns coming. I had an idea of "who dunnit" but love it when you get to the end and it's all been turned on its head.
Thank you for letting me read this, I will 100% be recommending this to my fellow book lovers
Another 5 Stars for C.L.Taylor

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With Cally’s books you always get a page turner and I defy you not to finish her books in a few days. This latest addition is no different for me although I feel the premise is a little similar to a couple of her books I have read.
I wouldn’t let that put you off though as she’s probably the best thriller authors out there and her twists will have you guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advanced copy.

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Another pacy book from C L Taylor, to be devoured hungrily so as not to lose track of any plot twists. I was sure I’d predicted the twists and outcome, but I was so far wrong!
I love all of C L Taylor’s books, but this might be my favourite yet. The story skips back and forth between present day and the holiday in which Fran’s sister went missing. She has been assumed to have committed suicide, but Fran believe last there’s more to this verdict than meets the eye. Fran’s overbearing mother is determined that she should find out what happened and so persuades her to attend a life retreat run by the man she believes is responsible for the death of her sister. Brilliant from start to finish. Highly recommended

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Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a number of this author's previous books, so was very keen to get started on this one too.

The story contained all the ingredients expected in a good pschological thriller.

The storyline regularly flipped from present to past, and was also told by multiple perspectives. Some of the characters also had past and present names, and some had aliases. The reader has to be on their mettle with this book, and I would recommend reading in one sitting or at least very quickly.

For me personally, I have to drop one star simply because I only read a few chapters a night, and I had a job keeping up!

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coming out at the beginning of the year! So when I found out that we would have not one but 2 books by her I was over the moon!


And of course I was not disappointed! The plot is fantastic and captivating with this suspense slowly building up in an incredible plot.

I love the different points of view from the different characters and also enjoyed reading the stories from the past as well.

I was captivated from chapter one and I really love the complexity of the characters. They are not only realistic - which normally makes them quite relatable - but you can also see them grow throughout the book which makes the plot really interesting.

C L Taylor always leaves us with some food for thought and, although I tend to get a bit frustrated with books that may leave the ending or plot lines open to interpretation, I never feel that towards C L Taylor’s books.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book (and all others by C L Taylor) and can’t wait for her next book!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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As a huge C.L Taylor fan, I was looking forward to her next novel out, so when I saw it available to request on NetGalley I knew I had to. And then when my request was accepted I was beyond excited!

Like all her books, I’m hooked by the first page, and this was indeed no different. I read it within a couple of days as I couldn’t put it down. I’m so grateful to have been approved for this.

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This should appeal to readers who enjoy the likes of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.

Rating: 4.0/5

Thank goodness for C.J. Taylor! Having recently battled my way through a couple of books that were less than enjoyable, it was a relief to get my hands on something that was a pleasure to read.

In her latest offering, Cally Taylor has produced a story that essentially has a mystery at its core, but which also touches on family (particularly sibling) relationships and the impact that unrevealed secrets can have on future events. The novel also questions the rôle and motivations of self-styled, self-help groups and the. often charismatic. people who run them.

The narrative operates across two timelines: The present day and also at a point 2-3 years earlier. Jenna, the sister of our lead protagonist, Fran, disappeared while attending a wellness retreat. The man behind the self-help retreat, Tom Wade, has since been serving a jail sentence as a result of two other people dying while they were in attendance. Jenna's body was never found, nor was she heard from again, and Tom has never revealed what happened to her. Following his release from imprisonment Tom is set to pick up where he left off and run another wellness retreat. So, Fran signs up for the course - and goes in search of the truth.

Along with her contemporaries, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley, C.J. Taylor has an impressive knack of creating settings and characters that are authentic and relatable. As a result, the reader is more accepting of the world they are being invited into and the scenario being presented. She achieves that again with this novel and while it is, perhaps, not her best, it is still very good.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

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Fran's sister Jenna disappeared during a Soul Shrink wellness retreat two years ago. Two people were killed during an accident during that retreat and the man behind it, Tom Wade, was just released from prison. In order to discover what happened to her sister, Fran goes on Tom's Soul Shrink retreat. Now she is with Tom, his wife, and people that knew her sister. Will Fran find out what happened to Jenna?

I enjoyed this mystery and the characters in it! It's filled with unexpected twists and turns. Will definitely recommend it. Thank you, NetGalley.

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I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This one was really enjoyable. A wide range of realistic, complicated characters with well-motivated actions and plot-turns. Twists are unexpected without being unbelievable. A solid thriller

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When I first picked up C.L. Taylor’s Her Last Holiday, having read advance publicity material, I expected an Agatha-Christie-style ‘whodunnit’ where a group of people are cooped up together in enclosed surroundings until suspects are gradually eliminated one by one by the detective and the eagle-eyed reader. C.L. Taylor’s latest offering, however, expands this literary trope by providing a fresh, contemporary insight into the growing ‘self-help retreat’ industry and the lengths of sisterly loyalty.
School teacher Fran is desperate to find out what happened to her younger sister Jenna who disappeared during a self-help workshop on the Maltese island of Gozo run by the charismatic Tom Wade and his ruthlessly wife Kate. Although Tom has been forced to endure a prison sentence for the manslaughter of two other workshop participants, Kate is ruthlessly determined to re-launch his ‘soul shrink’ brand when he is released, and the couple organise a similar workshop in Cumbria that Fran books under an assumed name.
Initially I found the broken timeline and the many spotlights on ancillary characters difficult, as there are so many diversions from Fran’s search to take notice of. Eventually, though, Fran’s strategy crystallised, the deeply buried family secrets her parents have guarded emerged, and the motives of some of the family workshop participants became clearer, and as a result I enjoyed reading the novel more. I also liked seeing how the resourceful, determined Fran meets her match in an undercover journalist keen to discover her own narrative, and witnessing how the deeply flawed, unlikeable character of Kate was always several steps behind them with her suspicions. The ending of the novel is not only completely unexpected but also deeply satisfying, something that is rare in novels of this genre. I am sure that fans of C.L. Taylor’s previous novels will read this stand-alone tome anyway, but I hope Her Last Holiday will also garner her many new readers. Warmly recommended, and with my thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for the ARC provided in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

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This was an easy read and kept me wanting to read till the end. It’s also keeps you guessing up until the end you find out what happens to Jenna. Would recommend this to anyone

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Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc.

I absolutely adored The Lie by CL Taylor. She writes such pacy reads that have you hooked with chapters that end on cliffhangers and leave you gasping. Her Last Holiday is not different.
This follows three women across a Now and Then timeline. Now follows:
* Fran - 51-years old, an ICT teacher. Her younger sister disappeared on a retreat in Malta three years old. Her death was ruled as suicide, even though her body was never found. Fran has a strained relationship with her mother who bullies Fran into going to a retreat in Wales held by Tom Wade, who was released from prison 9 months after. It was on Tom’s retreat Jenna, her sister, was last seen before she disappeared...And it’s there that Fran will get answers.
* Kate - Tom’s wife. She organises everything - the architect behind Tom’s success - and she’s determined that the retreat will be success after her husband’s release. No-one will get in her way...
* Then - Jenna - 37-year old Jenna is going on a retreat to Malta. She has answers she’s seeking, and it’s not long before her quest for healing turns into something more unexpectedly passionate as she falls for Tom. But someone isn’t happy...And is falling Jenna. Leaving her life-threatening warnings...
The narratives combine nicely. I was on the edge of my seat constantly. The characters are fleshed out and your impressions of the characters change constantly throughout the story. I did think, however, that the last 20% had far too many far-fetched twists and the ending wasn’t as satisfying. But on the whole this is truly, a gripping read about family regrets and secrets, creepy retreats, and the bond between sisters. 4/5.

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I am a huge C. L. Taylor so receiving an ARC of Her Last Holiday was a so exciting.

In typical fashion Taylor writes a gripping tale with so many twists. This plot driven storyline along with fantastic characters made for an exhilarating read.

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I have absolutely loved reading this book and found myself racing through the pages to find out what would happen next!

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a Soul Shrink wellness retreat in Gozo. The now infamous man behind the retreats, Tom Wade, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people. However, he has never spoken about what happened to the third suspected victim Jenna.

In a bid to uncover the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat in Wales; the first since his release. She is determined to uncover the truth and speak to the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. But will she escape the retreat alive? Or is there someone who is desperate for Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

I really liked the ‘now’ and ‘then’ dual storyline in this book. The ‘then’ chapters were from the perspective of Jenna giving insight into the retreat in Gozo and her thoughts and feelings during this time. The ‘now’ chapters were from the perspective of Fran (Jenna’s sister) and Kate (Tom’s wife). These alternating narratives made this a really gripping read and I loved how there were so many hidden secrets which were slowly revealed across the course of the story.

The descriptions were so beautifully detailed throughout meaning I could really picture both the Gozo and Wales retreats. I also really liked the depth and mystery surrounding the characters and found the two things combined made for a really immersive reading experience.

I particularly loved the layers of suspense and the fantastic twists and turns along the way. When certain truths were revealed I was left speechless! I also really liked the final three chapters. They were the perfect ending to an incredible book and I didn’t see them coming at all! I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!

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This was a race to the finish line I'm always gripped by C.L. Taylor's books and this one was no different, you get so invested in the story that you say just one more chapter and before you know it you've finished and it's 3am! 🤣

An intriguing story of troubled souls seeking relief in retreats with tragic consequences.

Full of suspense, suspicion, lies, tragedy, I raced though and enjoyed the twists and turns along the way!

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My thanks to NetGalley and Avon books for a copy of “ Her Last Holiday “ for an honest review .

Another enjoyable read from C L Taylor that kept you guessing right up to the end..If I’m honest i didn’t like this as much as her previous books , but that’s only because they were so good. This book took me longer to get into, and I struggled a little with the name changes but I will definitely be recommending this as a perfect summer read..

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The author brings us a well done mesmerizing story of a disappearance and possibly murder of a young woman. Jenna, the lady in question had been involved in a wellness retreat taking place on the Maltesian island of Gozo . She was caught up in a situation that went horribly wrong when two people taking the retreat were victims of a horrific accident and killed. Jenna mysteriously disappeared from the group and was believed to have also died as well. The leader of the group, Tom Wade, was sentenced to two years in prison when deemed culpable for the deaths.
Jenna's sister Fran learns that Tom has been released from prison and has with a partner organized another retreat. Fran joins the retreat with a determination of attempting to find out what did happen to her sister.
Ms. Taylor sets up her story with flashes back and forth between the current retreat and that taking place on Gozo several years ago. The method and her use of the shifts makes for a perfect vehicle for engrossing the reader. What really happened is a carrot hung out before the reader keeping him or her totally brought into the story and attempting to fathom what really happened and also why did it occur. A publicity caption for the novel terms the author a master of suspense and yes that is so. Her novels don't disappoint and the ending of those I have read cause Ms. Taylor's readers to immediately begin looking for the next one.

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I’ve always loved CL Taylor’s books and this was no exception on the whole but I did feel elements of it were a little far fetched at times and I didn’t feel as gripped as I normally do by her novels. That being said it was well written as always and I enjoyed the different POVs and the timeline jump throughout the book. I was going to give it a 3.5 but the more I think about it the more I realise I did enjoy it a lot so feel a 4 is fairest. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Avon for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I”ve read other books by C.L. Taylor and “Her last holiday” didn’t disappointed me. In my opinion this is one of her best books, with deep and believable characters that make the reader care about them. The story is engaging and updated as we have so many real life “gurus” claiming they can fix all kinds of problems, I liked try way the story unfolds and especially how Fran overcomes her fears and reunites with her sister. I highly recommend this book.

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C.L Taylor has done it again! Yet another of her books I couldn't put down, read it in less than 24 hours and was rather sad to finish it in a way. I had great fun desperately trying to figure out what happened before I read the answers, nothing like a good mystery to engage my brain.

Following the lives of two sisters, Fran and Jenna, you slowly weave together a picture of what really happened in Gozo on the night of Jenna's disappearance.
Throughout the whole book, I found myself never quite sure who to trust. Everyone has their own secrets hidden just below the surface but you often have no idea just how damaging those secrets are behind the facade.

Right from the get-go, Tom Wade is painted as the villain, newly released from prison after serving 3 years for the accidental deaths of two of his clients at a wellness retreat. With Jenna assumed to have committed suicide, no one was held responsible for her disappearance, yet Fran and her mother were adamant to find Tom and get the truth.

The more you learn about Tom, his wife Kate and the others on the retreat, the less sure you can be about anything that's going on. Tom is not the villain he seems, Kate is no saint and no one seems to be telling the truth about their motives for being there.

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C L Taylor is one of my favourite authors so I’m very happy to be reviewing her upcoming book “Her Last Holiday”.

She’s a master of twisty shocking tales and this is no exception!

Francs sister Jenna went missing / presumed dead on a retreat a few years ago, now the man in charge has been released from prison and he’s started a new retreat. Of course Fran has to go but there’s some shocks along the way...

Thrilling! Loved this. I really enjoyed how Fran was not a likeable character, she’s harsh and takes no shit but not in a likeable way...I feel like this really added to the story and really showed the differences between her and Jenna. I loved to hate Kate! What a character!

A fantastic 4/5.

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Loved this! Read it in a couple of hours. A well conceived plot, I didn't guess the ending until just before it was revealed. Definitely will be recommending this!

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Fran is determined to find out the truth behind her sister Jenna’s disappearance and supposed suicide. She went missing on a retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong after two people died. It was run by the charismatic Tom Wade who went to prison for the deaths but never explained what happened to Jenna.
Fran sees that on Tom’s release he is running another retreat and books on to it hoping to find the truth and come to terms with her sister’s death. She is convinced that Tom is to blame and wants to make him pay.
Full of suspense this kept me gripped to the end, loved it!

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My first CL Taylor book! This book had me hooked from the outset and deserves every good review given to it! I thoroughly enjoyed reading his and was really disappointed that it had to end!

Fran’s sister Jenna has gone missing (and presumed dead) after she attended a retreat in Gozo run by Tom Wade and his wife Kate. Never having been that close to Jenna due to the age gap and family circumstances and pressure from her overbearing mother, Fran decides to sign up for the next retreat to investigate what happened as she feels something untoward went on. The story is told from Kate, Jenna and Fran’s perspective and hovers between past and present.

Great writing and character building from the author. Also, there is a big twist at the end of this so be prepared!
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I spent most of this booking thinking I had the whole thing figured out and that it was so predictable and obvious, but I was completely wrong and now I am laughing at myself. The last 20% to 30% of the book is chock-full of explosive surprises that I didn't see coming! I would describe this thriller as a slow burn. There was definitely mystery and suspense throughout the book but the end had me glued to the page.

This was my first C.L. Taylor book but it definitely won’t be my last. If you have never read any of her books my only advice would be to read the whole thing through, don’t give up on it because you think you have it all figured out. It took me a little while to get into this one but the end is so good it completely makes up for it. With my next C.L. Taylor book, I will dive into it with a fresh mind knowing that she has all kinds of tricks up her sleeve.

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I love CL Taylor - her novels never fail to grip me, and Her Last Holiday was another great read!

I must note though that it took me a good 30% of the book to learn who was who though, as several characters have two names (one in the past and one in the present), and the main character shares her false ‘current’ name with her mother, making things quite confusing at times!

However once I got into the book and learned the characters, the book drew me in properly. It’s worth persevering with the first quarter or so, as it’s an enjoyable escapist read**

Set both in modern day wet wintery Wales and 3 years earlier in Gozo in healing retreats, it was the perfect antidote to ‘retreat’ into away from the news etc (from wet wintery Wales however!) which dominates our lives so much at the moment. It has a great mix of goodies, baddies, and downright odd people - and some who will take you by surprise. I couldn’t put it down in the second half of the book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

**Read the first quarter in one go if you can for the continuity!

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Fran books herself into Soul Shrink Retreats to try to find out what happened to her sister who visited the retreat a few years ago and disappeared. Is Tom Wade the man behind the retreat innocent and as nice as he seems. This is another gripping book by CL Taylor who never disappoints and takes you on a thrilling adventure. Read and enjoy.

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An interesting, slow paced mystery with a lot of drama. I loved the premise of a sister looking into what happened to her sister. With a cast of several excellent suspects at the retreat, I was entertained, even if I did guess the twist. A light beach read.

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An excellent read - as usual with this author. An intriguing plot line, which builds up throughout the story, creates tension. Would recommend.

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Oh! It is always such a pleasure to read a C.L. Taylor book!
Her Last Holiday has all the elements you want a thriller book to have. It's creepy, shocking, edge-of-seat, atmospheric, laden with secrets and motives that will definitely blow your mind.
I had an amazing time reading this book. :)

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I absolutely loved this. The story was so well written and each of the three characters had such distinct and individual voices, i was completely engaged by them. While not all of them were what you would call likeable, they were very good characters and i find unlikable characters to be (sometimes) far more interesting. I never imagined the ending or the twists, i thought i had it all figured out but once again Cally threw me for a loop with an epic game changer.

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This was a fascinating story based around a self help group holiday. The descriptions in the story were excellent and I felt as though I was there. I managed well with the time changes in the story as they were clearly defined and the interactions between the participants was very good. I loved the conclusion..

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This was my first introduction to books by C.L.Taylor and I shall certainly go back and read the others.
This story was told from the perspective of 3 people over 2 time periods.
The interesting plot kept me wanting to find out what happened
I really enjoyed it and if you like a who dunnit then this is the book for you.
Thanks to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Reading a C. L. Taylor novel has the same effect on me as watching Criminal or The Alienist 📺 it is absolute comfort zone time, at its best. “Her Last Holiday” was my third book by this author & I have read it over the period of 10 days, enjoying it in little bits every day.

Tom Wade, infamous guru and leader of self-help counselling group SoulShrink, has just been released from prison after being sentenced for his involvement in the mysterious deaths of two people. Tom’s wife Kate seizes this opportunity to arrange for a new SoulShrink 💬 retreat session on the country-side. What neither of them knows is that one of the participants has applied using a false name – Fran is not here for the counselling, she needs to solve a very important question.

Her Last Holiday
By C. L. Taylor
My Rating: 4 🌟
This book came with strong “Sleep” vibes (for fellow readers of C. L. Taylor novels) – I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thriller that reads like a cosy mystery and is a real “who dun it”.

Thank you very much @avon_books for the kind NetGalley ARC; I have enjoyed this novel a lot.

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A most enjoyable multiple character viewpoint mystery that kept me guessing for a long time. There are plenty of twists, turns, roundabouts, suspicious and never a dull moment from start to finish.

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My first book by this author and after a slow start I enjoyed it. Two years ago Fran’s sister Jenna goes missing on a wellness retreat in Gozo, their mother has a hard time accepting her presumed death and signs up to go an another retreat run by the same couple, Tom and Kate. When her mother has an accident she persuades Fran to take her place to try and discover what happened to Jenna. There are plenty of red herrings and twists as Fran struggles to find the truth and solve the mystery.

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What a fun, twisty read! Her Last Holiday kept me second guessing myself the whole time! With alternating POVs, Taylor keeps the reader on their toes. Family secrets, marriage secrets, death and a missing woman makes this book a delicious read!

I received #HerLastHoliday as an ARC courtesy of #NetGalley and #HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review

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A corkscrew roller coaster is how I would describe this book. What a read it was that I enjoyed and I could not put down. Tom and Kate run a posh sweat lodge retreat for people with "problems." Fran, who goes by the name of Geraldine, books a stay to try and find out what happened to her sister who disappeared from there 3 years prior. Caroline, who goes by the name of Joy, is a reporter wanting to write a story about Tom who was recently released from prison. There are a lot of strange, dysfunctional characters in this story that is told is a then and now format with different narrators. Fran (Geraldine) and Caroline (Joy) add to the confusion by using there alternative names. Overall, it is a good read with a lot of suspense and surprises in it.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this very exciting book that was a real page turner in exchange for an honest review.

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When Jenna attends a retreat, her family are devastated to hear she has committed suicide. Her mother doesn't accept the suicide verdict and sends Jenna's sister Fran on the next retreat to discover the truth. Fran has to learn who she can trust and who is a suspect as she desperately tries to discover what really happened to her sister.

A really good read. The characters come to life and the plot is interesting. There are enough twists to keep the reader turning pages and to throw you off the scent. The writing style is excellent. I was impressed by the authors ability to create an image without being overly descriptive as some do. I would recommend this book.

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Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this book.
I found this book a really unusual and great read. The way it explores the relationship between siblings and an overbearing mother was really well done. I am sure there are a lot of people who spend far too much time and money on the type of “retreats” that Kate and Tom organised to find a way to correct their dysfunctional lives. The twists and turns in the book were really well written and kept you turning the pages. Only thing left unfinished was were is Tom now?
Looking forward to more please.

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This was quite an interesting read It centers around missing (presumed dead after having committed suicide) Jenna, who was last seen at a retreat, and her sister Fran, who goes on the hunt for answers.

Apart from the story itself, which drew me in, left me incredulous, then amused, I found myself thinking about it for quite a while after reading the last page. The twists and unexpected turns are very clever, and I especially enjoyed Caroline, and also Fran. Frankly, Tom, Kate, Geraldine and even Jenna needed a good kick up the jacksy for the most part. And that sweat lodge! Holy cow, do people actually go in for that sort of thing? I'm amazed, ain't no way you'd get me in there, soul searching or not! Just goes to show how gullible people can be, and why people (like Kate) make a lot of money if they play their cards right.

In her acknowledgments, the author says that if this is the first of her books the reader has picked up, she hopes it inspires a second, and by Jove it has. I look forward to delving into a few more C.L. Taylor offerings in the near future. I give this a solid 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thanks to C.L. Taylor, Avon Books, and NetGalley for my ARC.

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Read this book all in one sitting. Loved the complexities of the characters and their surrounding relationships. Also liked the way the author led you down one path, then another, leaving it impossible to know who the villain or hero/heroine would be in this story. Liked the twists at the end too!

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I really enjoy reading CL Taylors books. They are all unique in their plots and take you on a journey. This book was definitely one of my favorites from her. I really enjoyed how the story was told from 3 different points of view. I didn't love all of the characters, but I truly appreciated their perspectives and why they did what they did. I enjoyed reading about Kate's perspective and how she spiraled down as the book progressed. Never thought that she would be that devious! I was happy that Fran and Jenna made up with their parents at the end. I liked how that part of the book ended. I almost felt like with the Kate ending that we might see another book about her?

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Wow I have no clue how C. L. Taylor does this time and time again and comes up with books that leave you unable to put them down, and leaving you opened mouths in awe and shock by the end!

But it's one hell of a skill to have, and this is another triumphant book that had me scratching my head. Ok I had a tiny inkling about one part of the resolution, but I wasn't ever completely sure, nor could I work out the hows, whys etc...

We are treated to three ladies perspectives, Jenna from her time at the wellness retreat in Gozo, Fran and Kate in the present day, where ultimately we are on a retreat run by the same man responsible for deaths at his previous one in Gozo, and that has just been released from prison.

Fran is on the quest for truth as to just what happened to Jenna, two years ago, as her family are refusing to believe the verdict of suicide. However the sheer act of asking questions could be rather dangerous it appears.

And in the chapters from Jenna's points of view, I was utterly gripped into what went on, and how so many people believed in Tom - the soul shrink. Tom suffers from a condition that is actually quite fascinating and his welcome talk on the new retreat sounded really impressive, but how much of that was really true I'm not sure!

I read this book in two sittings, with the need for sleep the only thing stopping me from reading it in one go. It was addictive, unpredictable, gripping and just C. L. Taylor at her very best. It keeps you guessing, keeps you thinking and is just a fabulous reading experience.

I've said it before, and I'll happily say it again, that C. L. Taylor writes absolute masterpieces, always so different but with the most amazing of storylines and twists that come out of nowhere. Just wow!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

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I loved reading this book, especially about Fran. Fran comes across as a woman who goes to work does what she is paid to do before returning home to comfy slippers and hot chocolate by the fire. When she is summoned home, by her mother, it is still to take second place to her absent sister Jenna again! Jenna was the much younger sister of Fran, and they had never been close.


Jenna had gone missing while attending a retreat in Gozo, at the same time as two other guests had died. Tom Wade, the head of Soul Shrink Retreats, was being released from prison after serving a two-year manslaughter sentence for the two that had died. Jenna was still missing.
A very reluctant Tom and his pushy wife Kate had organised a new venue in Wales, and Fran’s mum was insistent that Fran goes to find out what had happened to Jenna.

This book was very entertaining, with characters that are larger than life. Fran is hilarious, not comfortable mixing with people, and has a lousy memory for the identity she has taken on. I had to cringe and giggle at her.


The story is told by three women, first Fran, secondly Kate whose memories go back to the last retreat and everything that went wrong to present day and finally Jenna leading up to what had happened to her. These three were perfect narrators and held all the answers.


This story is more of a Miss Marple than Peter James, easy reading, engaging and loved the end!


I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

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Oh wow! This is a straight from the headlines thriller. The sister Jenna disappears at a retreat by a guru jailed for the death of two and the sister of third retreat goer ends up trying to get to the bottom of it. Amazing plot and twists and a satisfying ending.

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Jenna goes to a retreat to heal, but she never comes home.  Now her sister, Fran, is trying to find out who killed her.  Will Fran finally get to the truth or will she never return home just like her sister?

This is another belter of a book from CL Taylor.  Yet again, you are transported into a world with twists, turns, secrets and lies and I loved it.

I really enjoyed Fran.  She is not your usual lead character in crime/thriller books.  She is sassy, but in a way your Mum gets sassy when someone cuts in front of her in a queue and she ends up muttering "youths" as she walks past a teenager.  She is slightly square, slightly older, and slightly rude, but that's my favourite personality combination of seems!  But most of all, she stands up for what is right, and you see that in the opening of the book, which just cemented my enjoyment of her early on.

I really found the family dynamics interesting too as well as the subjects within the story about domestic abuse (both marital and relative based) and really liked how in both cases it was flipped on its head from the "usual" stereotype of men being the perpetrator.

It's a book that I absolutely flew through, and like the other books I've read from CL Taylor, it's a another fantastic page turner.

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Just finished this and I feel like I have a book hangover. Great book, I really liked the characters and C. L Taylor always sets the scene and describes her characters perfectly so that you instantly like or dislike them. I didn't really like the main character Fran at first but as the story went on I warmed to her. This book is packed with lots of drama and twists which made it hard to put down. Definitely a 5 star book perfect for summer

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Fran's sister, Jenna, disappeared two years ago on a wellness retreat in Gozo.
When Tom Wade, the man behind SoulsShrinks Retreat gets out of prison after serving a sentence for the death of two people, Jenna's mother forces Fran to book a place on his upcoming retreat.
Will Fran find out what happened to her sister?

As expected CL Taylor doesn't disappoint, and produces another unputdownable book.
I found myself sucked right in, even though the plot details were doled out slowly. It is a book full of suspense that keeps you racing through it to find out what happens next.
My only reservation is that I found the twist a bit far-fetched, and the whole story, overall, had a familiar feeling; I must have read another book about a wellness retreat before.
Nonetheless, this was a really good, and gripping read, and I highly recommend it, whether you're new to CL Taylor's work, or whether you've read some of her books already.

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Be prepared for a brilliant, clever, crime thriller/suspense you will not want to put down. This latest book from CL Taylor is brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The suspense grabs you and trust me you won't want to stop reading until the final page. The characters are awesome and the plot is unexpected, the twist are mind blowing. CL Taylor has truly written a masterpiece, it will shock and end with a killer twist. The main character Fran is certainly determined to find out what happened to her sister at the wellness retreat and that's where the twists and shocks come in. The book just absorbs you and it's one of those where you say "just one more chapter" well that chapter just doesn't happen and before you know it you have finished the whole book. I really loved it and it deserves more stars than five. I would highly recommend because you won't be disappointed.

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C.L. Taylor has done it again...A gripping story full of suspense. 5 stars!
I first came across C.L. Taylor's books a few years ago when someone donated 'The Accident' to a book swap shelf. Ever since then I have been addicted to her books. So I was over the moon to say the least when I got accepted to review her new book!
'Her Last Holiday,' is full of twists and turns from the beginning right until the end. Just when you think you've got it there's another twist!
When you think of a wellness or health retreat you think of spa days, motivational speakers, delicious food, relaxation and happiness. However, this book completely flips this view and turns 'paradise' into a nightmare!
I loved the variety and mystery of the characters and how their different personalities played a role in the story. They are described in so much detail and I could imagine each of them clearly in my head.
I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put this book down.
If you love mystery, a gripping story with plenty of twists and turns I would 100% recommend this book.
Thank you to C.L. Taylor, Avon and HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

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I always love Cally’s books, she has a way with words that manage to drum up excitement and anticipation about what’s going to happen next. I thought I had this story figured out - I was wrong! The ending!!!

I give this book 4 stars because it felt a little samey and similar to other reads, it really did remind me of Sleep in a way (people who don’t know each other staying away in a house together on a retreat) I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’m so pleased I’m getting back into fiction again, I found that so hard in 2020! Thanks Cally!

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I went into this book thinking, “who would let that man host another retreat?” I ended up loving the book though.

I loved the mystery in it, which I cant talk a lot about because of *spoilers*, but I really enjoyed it.

The characters were also great—and some of them also mysterious—and i really enjoyed learning about them as well.

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'Learn how to heal your trauma, free yourself from anxiety and fact the future with optimism rather than fear’

Packed with mystery, wonderfully twisted characters and told in two timelines Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor is set in a wellness retreat in Snowdonia, Wales and another in Malta. The face for the SoulShrink Retreat is Tom Wade a motivational speaker and anxiety survivor and he’s just been released from jail!

Fran Fitzgerald is a teacher with attitude and Tom Wade from SoulShrink was the last person to see her much younger sister Jenna alive! Jenna went missing at a SoulShrink retreat that took place in Gozo, Malta.

On his release from jail Tom had decided he wasn’t going to run another retreat but his mind has been changed, it’s back to business and one will be held.

Seeing online that Tom has been released and within three days he's begun tweeting again, Fran’s mother Geraldine is bloody angry! Geraldine decides Fran should try and find out what happened to her daughter Jenna as she doesn’t believe it could of been a suicide. So Fran books herself on the next retreat to confront Tom and look for answers. Will Fran get her answers and will she get out alive?

There are many characters in this story (keep a notebook!) as the story is told from both Jenna’s and Fran’s point of view at each different retreat.

And we have our third narrator, Kate. Kate is the organiser, business partner and the drive behind the retreats. She has held everything together and pushed on after the murder accusations ruined them financially.

The story begins with a great dynamic and later in the story the tone and pace changes with many red herrings and secrets. I think to enjoy this story one hundred per cent you have to realise it's fiction so it doesn’t have to be believable!!!

The story is tantalisingly character driven. An entertaining psychological thriller!
Release date is 29 April 2021!

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I have read all the books this author has written and this book did not disappoint. Great storyline and relatable characters. Highly recommended.

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Fran’s sister Jenna visited Gozo on a self-help retreat with a group of people. A tragic accident happens resulting in two people from the group dying and Jenna going missing. Her disappearance is later ruled as a suicide. Tom the leader of the self-help group is sent to prison. Fran and her family are left struggling to come to terms with Jenna committing suicide.
Almost three years later when Tom is released from prison and begins to get his life back on track, Jenna’s family are shocked to see Tom has organised another self-help retreat. Fran is booked onto the retreat under a pseudonym to investigate her sisters death. Will Fran get the answers she desperately craves?

For me, this book was full of excitement, so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, half the time I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I loved the mysterious backgrounds to all the characters and I really became invested in the hunt to find out what happened to Jenna. I was absolutely gripped from start to finish.

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If you have read Taylor's previous books and liked them you will definitely like this. Everything about this book was great, I mean everything. Highly Recommend

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Two tears ago something happened in Gozo. We know two people died. And we know Jenna, Fran's sister hasnt been seen since.

Tom Wade has spent two years in jail for his 'crime'

Kate, his wife has been planning Tom's comeback. Now that hes out will SoulShrink rise from the ground again?

Fran has decided (well been pushed by her mother Geraldine) to go on the first SoulShrink retreat since Tom the leader has been released from prison. Will Fran find the answers she's looking for? Or is she putting herself in the line of danger?

C L Taylor has done it again, I love her writing style. She doesn't divulge too much information too soon. We barely know the background of what happened in the SoulShrink retreat in Gozo, but we know enough to want to find out more.

The reinvented retreat is being held in Snowdonia. Now being a North Walian girl 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 the locations mentioned in the book aren't very far from me. I kind of squealed when the A497 got a mention even 🙈

Her Last Holiday is full of mystery and intrigue. Prepare to play detective as you try to unravel the secrets, plus keep your wits about you on who's who?



Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for my gifted digital copy.

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I enjoyed C L Taylors Sleep, and so this book was easy to catch my eye...

I found it was a little more tricky to initially get into this book, some of the character reference from the present to the past was hard to get straight..,but I pleased to have stayed with it. I would recommend 'sticking with' the first quarter.

Overall I like her writing style the characters are good,,,,and I thoroughly enjoy a good 'who dunnit'

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Good suspenseful book. A new author for me. I will definitely read more from this author. Love the story. Couldn’t put the book down.

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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

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Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor offers an intriguing premise that, for me, fell a little flat in its execution. I suspect that I may be the outlier here, but I felt myself becoming frustrated at my inability to really connect or empathize with any of the characters, which was unexpected as there is a cast of many. That being said, perhaps my expectations were set too high by the tantalizing promise of a sun-drenched holiday in Malta.

Fran, a woman whose sister disappeared two years earlier at a wellness retreat in Gozo, has decided to go looking for answers to the unsolved mystery. Booking herself into the Soul Shrink retreat, Fran hopes that by infiltrating the group from the inside, she will discover what really happened to her sister Jenna once and for all. Upon her arrival, Fran meets Tom Wade, the founder of Soul Shrink, and perhaps the only man who can provide answers to her many queries. But having recently been released after serving time in prison for his involvement in the deaths of two people, can Tom be trusted to explain what really happened to Jenna? And is Fran herself safe at the Gozo retreat, where those with secrets will stop at nothing to keep them hidden?

This is a novel that cunningly and admirably unravels its many secrets, and I was certainly intrigued enough to follow it through. I am anxious to read much more from this author but, unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the spot for me. 3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC of this title.

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have read a few books by this author and have enjoyed them all. This had great storyline and great characters and kept me hooked from the beginning to the end. Enjoyed it.

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This book was a little hard to get into but once I did I was hooked. The characters in the beginning are a little hard to keep straight but after the story developed it was an enjoyable read with a suspenseful story!

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This book is about a woman, Fran, who is investigating the suspicious death of her sister while on a wellness retreat 2 years ago. Forced into this by her mother, Fran attends her own retreat with little hope of finding any new info, only to find that there are several suspicious characters there with her.

I found this story intriguing, a little slow paced at times, but something that I was excited to finish. There were parts that were not believable, but if you can get past those, it's a fine story. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

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I have read all of C L Taylor’s previous novels and have always loved her cleverly crafted plots and how they weave in and out. This was no exception.

Fran’s sister, Jenna, went on a wellness retreat, SoulShrink, in Gozo two years before and did not return, having been declared as dead by way of suicide.

Fran, encouraged by her mother, Geraldine, is encouraged to go on the latest retreat run by the same couple as the leader, Tom Wade has just been released from prison charged with the deaths of others on that same trip. Fran intends to find out what happened and if her sister really did kill herself or had she been murdered.

The story is told from Kate (Tom’s wife), Jenna and Fran’s perspective alternating between the present and the past. It is clear that not everybody is telling the truth but there are numerous twists and turns throughout, a few of which left me gobsmacked.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and C. L. Taylor for my ARC of Her Last Holiday in return for my honest review.

Excellent Read. Recommended.

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I'm getting more and more into thriller and mystery/suspense, and I loved that this one had a slow-burn kind of a feel to it. It included everything I love in my books: sisters, long-held secrets, family drama, and it was told in multi-POV. The setting of a wellness retreat in Gozo was great - the perfect escape! This is a fun, quick read for when you just want to get away.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book I requested and received in exchange for an honest review.

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I enjoyed this book. 2 years ago, Fran's sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat on Gozo. She had apparently taken her own life, though her body was never found. Tom Wade, the wellness guru who organised the retreat has just spent time in prison, and is now out and hosting another retreat in north Wales. Fran books herself in and is determined to find out what happened to her sister. This is a real page turner which will keep you on the edge of your seat. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

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Fran has a busy life and has little time for her family who she finds quite annoying. When her younger sister Jenna seeks her out to urgently speak to her she brushes her off saying she’s too busy. It is the last time she sees her. When tragedy strikes at the retreat Jenna is attending it is assumed she committed suicide but fast forward a few years and Fran makes her mission to get to the truth. A story that seemlessly switches from past to present and from the perspective of different characters it gradually unravels the truth with many a twist that has the reader guessing throughout. There are some quite detestable characters, others that garner sympathy and those with hidden secrets and agendas that make the book interesting from the start. Another imaginative book from the talented Cally Taylor.

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Again, as always, C L Taylor spins another winner of a read!

Fran, living a "regular" lifestyle, misses her sister, Jenna, who died 2 years ago. One day while on the tube, Fran meets another commuter, Stella,. (who the reader immediately wonders about)..

BEFORE - On an airplane, Jenna is excited to go to a retreat. Of course, this may have something to do with one of the group leaders. Tom. may have mutual feelings for Jenna, but he is with Kate.

NOW we find out that Tom is being released from prison.

What did Tom do?

...and more importantly what WILL: Tom do?

It is always such a pleasure to read and review a C L Taylor book. Many Thanks to AVON Books, UK and NetGalley for a wonderful story!

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My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A tense and intriguing read, cleverly written with lots of twists and turns. This is a compelling mystery with well developed characters. I would recommend as a good read.

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This was such an addictive book as I followed the story of Fran to discover the truth behind her sisters death. It is told in a dual timeline format and this worked so well for the story. The past gave me details of Jenna, Frans sister, who she met while on a retreat. The present is Frans part of the story.

The retreat is supposed to be a safe place, a place to overcome fears, tackle the lurking memories and demons and should be a positive and life affirming break. Jenna, unfortunately doesn’t come home from this break.

When another retreat is advertised Fran is cajoled into a place. The who and the why is gradually revealed and it gives an insight into both the lives of the sisters.

This is such a good story and one that had a great amount of intrigue. As I was reading I did wonder who was the main instigator and also who could I trust. I have to say the characters in the main are not that trustworthy or that likeable. In some ways this adds the suspicious side to their nature.

This had an excellent pace and quite a few twists. If you are a fan of crime and mystery books then you will probably read one or more of this authors books already. If you haven’t then you really should. A interesting and intriguing story that I would definitely recommend.

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Thank you to C.L Taylor, NetGalley and Avon Books for the advance review copy of Her Last Holiday.

Two years ago Fran's younger sister Jenna went to a Soul Shrink self help retreat in Gozo with famous therapist Tom Wade - but sadly never returned. After the deaths of two of the attendees during the Gozo retreat, Tom was sent to prison for 2 years on a manslaughter charge, Meanwhile Jenna was missing under suspicious circumstances and her body was never found. The Police ruled that troubled Jenna had committed suicide.

When Tom is released from prison, his wife and business partner Kate has been planning his return for weeks. His big comeback, his return to hosting therapy retreats and a plan to rebuild their business empire. Within days of his release she has tweeted from his social accounts expressing his sorrow, hoping to gain the support of his heavy following who always supported his claim of innocence. Whilst Tom would have happily never hosted another retreat ever again, Kate is determined that they should go ahead to regain his reputation.

When Jenna and Fran's Mother sees the retreat in Wales advertised, she is furious, convinced that Tom murdered Jenna and desperate for answers. She books Fran on to the retreat, telling that she must stop at nothing to discover the truth. Fran eventually agrees creating a new identity in her Mother's maiden name to head to the retreat incognito. When some familiar characters arrive on the retreat who were also present in Gozo, is this Fran's opportunity to discover what really happened to her sister? Can she trust any of them?

Her Last Holiday kept me reading late into the night, with a great tension build up willing you to read on and learn more. Told through the differing perspectives of Jenna in Gozo during the retreat, Fran in the present day and Kate (the business partner), I really enjoyed flicking between the present day and the events that occurred two years ago in Gozo. As some of the characters were present again, I found myself doubting and questioning everyone. I also loved the fact that seeds that were planted early on grew to be crucial parts of the plot, but were done so subtly that you didn't even notice them at the time.

I really warmed to the slightly rude, no filter Fran - an unlikely lead but someone who I found myself rooting for - the guilt she felt at telling her sister to 'come back later' as there last meeting was relatable and heartfelt.

I read Her Last Holiday from cover to cover in 12 hours, stopping only to sleep! I believe this is my first read by C.L Taylor, but definitely not my last.

(This will be shared on realmumreview.com in March ready for April release)

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I really enjoyed Her Last Holiday by C.L Taylor. Jenna attends a retreat in Gozo and never returns, her family are devastated to hear that she committed suicide but her body was never found. Jenna's sister Fran decides to attend one of these retreats two years after her sister's death, she wants to find out exactly what happened and why her sister would do such a thing.
This is a really good read, the plot keeps you interested the whole way through and you can't put it down. The narration switches from Fran now and Jenna then, so you slowly get to find out what happened while Jenna was at the retreat and the same time as following Fran as she tries to unearth the truth.
A great gripping and thrilling read. I would recommend this book.

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I absolutely love this author’s books, and I was so excited to get the chance to read and review this book. Well, just be warned, don’t read this book until you have cleared your diary, because you won’t be able to put it down! Yet again, this author has caused me a late night, as “one more chapter” became the rest of the book.

Everything in this book lends itself perfectly to the element of suspense and the atmosphere of trepidation and fear.

There’s a feeling that Fran is entering the lion’s den by going on the wellness retreat, given what happened to her sister. I was on tenterhooks the whole time, fearing that she would be found out, and that something awful would happen to her. There certainly seem to be a lot of secrets about, and not everyone is who they seem.

We get a dual timeline, with snippets of what happened to Jenna on her retreat. Just enough to whet the appetite, and to make you need to find out what the conclusion was, but all is not revealed until near the end, in a series of shocking and heart-pounding twists and turns.

Yet another triumph from one my favourite thriller writers, this book will have you totally enthralled and riveted. Can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s out in April, available to pre-order now.

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Another great book from Cally Taylor! She has a knack for keeping you guessing. Set in the world of self help groups with this one seeming to prey on vulnerable people. The main two characters are sisters Fran and much younger sister Jenna who seem to have a somewhat difficult relationship. Jenna disappears from a wellness retreat run by Tom and Kate. in Gozo. Tom ends up in prison charged with the deaths of two other attendees but he has never commented on what happened to Jenna. Once Tom is released from prison, Fran encouraged by her domineering mother books herself onto Tom's new retreat in the hope of finding out exactly what happened to her sister.

With. a cast of people who I changed my mind about several times you finally find out what happened to Jenna. This is a story with twists and turns and sometimes you are not sure who is telling the truth! Although I did guess one of the twists (maybe we were supposed to?!) I wasn't prepared for the major twist at the end which I thought was a great way to finish Fran and Jenna's story,

I also enjoyed the development of Fran's character who obviously was the type of person that was clearly uncomfortable in discussing her feelings and baring her soul, but to be undercover at the wellness retreat she was forced to reveal more about her real self and her true feelings.

Fans of Cally Taylor's will not be disappointed!

Thank you to Cally, Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Every book I’m blown away at the skill and intricacy of Taylor’s work. Her Last Holiday is told from the view points of three women and each one has a very clear and distinct voice, something which other authors have tried and failed to do well. There are so many layers to this story; grief, loss, control and a need to find yourself and belong. All these come together to create a brilliant mystery that left me guessing right to the end. I loved this!

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Thank you to NetGalley for this advance copy of Her Last Holiday.

I really enjoyed this book overall. I didn’t realize this had multiple POVs going in but I think it really kept you on your toes to see how things change be misconstrued from person to person. This book definitely had me guessing for a majority of the book on who done it. (I can normally pick the killer out a mile away but not with this one. However I did guess it before the actual revile)

I enjoyed the concept and the characters felt well fleshed out and real. The only thing I didn’t like was that I felt it was drug on after the climax. I understand the purpose of the last few chapters but at the same time I could have enjoyed the book just the same without them.

If you are a fan of mystery’s and who done its. I think you’ll enjoy this book.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First, I really REALLY enjoy C.L Taylor's books, however this one fell a little flat for me. I loved the idea behind it..a sister looking for a sister and she signs up for the same retreat that her sister disappeared from. The creator of the retreat has been in jail and is just being released.

It your classic who done it mystery, but I felt like it was a little too neat and too easy to figure out. Usually Taylor's books keep me guessing but this one was a little blah for me.

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Absolutely incredible read. I was hooked in right from the start and wanted to know everything right away! I couldn't decide who to feel for, who to trust and the whole tone of the book was uneasy and enticing.

It was a completely pleasurable experience to read through these amazing pages and yet again C.L Taylor has smashed creating a masterpiece for fans of the genre.

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This was a really good book. Plenty to keep me reading. Great author. I will recommend others read this book too.

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Wow what a read this was. From the first chapter I was totally engrossed in this fabulous mystery thriller. Utterly brilliant.

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I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

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I struggled to put this book down. The story is so twisty and just when you think you have it all clear and figured out - you just don’t. A really enjoyable read.

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Another great read by C.L Taylor. A gripping, mysterious thriller that kept me guessing until the end.

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I loved this book! It was such a strong well written story. It was exactly what I needed with everything going on in the world! A mind bending escape!

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Her Last Holiday by C.L Taylor is a well written mystery thriller that follows three women, Fran, Jenna and Kate.

Fran is haunted by her sister, Jenna's disappearance. Jenna went to a Soul Shrink retreat in Gozo two years ago and never came home. Police put it down to suicide or was foul play involved?

Fran attends a Soul Shrink retreat under another name to find the answers she desperately needs - What happened to Jenna and who was involved?

I really enjoyed reading Her Last Holiday with the three different character perspectives with the two different timelines. The story had twists and turns and just when you thought you knew what happened to Jenna you get turned around again. This is my first C.L Taylor book and I am sure it won't be my last.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advanced copy of Her Last Holiday for an honest review.

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The new book from C. L. Taylor will not disappoint.
This story tells the tale of Fran's attempt to find out what happened to her sister Jenna when she when on a holiday to a therapeutic resort in Gozo.
This story tells the story of all the characters through their viewpoint and jumps about in time, but this does not confuse and compliments the story and adds a dimension of compulsion to the story.
The characters are rich and some are just creepy.
This is a read to keep you addicted until you complete it and definitely one of the summer reads of 2021.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley in allowing me to read in return for a review.

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This book has me guessing along the way. I changed my mind at who wE responsible for Jennas death at least three times. I love books by this author as they grip you and make you want to read more. Highly recommended for people who like a mystery thriller with lots of twists and turns.

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Her Last Holiday - CJ Taylor

Fran and Jenna are sisters, with a twelve year age gap between them.
Three years ago Jenna went on a wellbeing retreat to Gozo, Malta and never came back, her body was never found.
The retreat ended in tragedy with two accidental deaths, and Tom the charismatic leader jailed for negligent manslaughter.
Three years later Fran goes on a retreat in North Wales (run by the Tom, who is fresh out of prison) in an attempt to find out the truth about Jenna's death. Murder or suicide?

Told using a past / present narrative, the past focussing on Jenna's Gozo retreat, and the present on Fran's attempts to find the truth.

The first thing that stuck me is the humour, this is a very funny book.

The plots rolls along at a good pace, the characters are multi-dimensional and emotionally involving with hidden depths and motivation. I thought the plotting was brilliant with both the past and present narrative being rich with depth, twists and turns.

Not many books can make me laugh and cry and keep my heart racing.

I really couldn't fault this book, characters, depth, plot, pace, suspense, humour, it does everything superbly and was a joy to read.

I've been a fan of CL Taylor's book since reading The Escape and The Fear a few years ago, books which really opened my eyes to what unconventional psychological character thrillers can do.

Her Last Holiday is up there with my favourites of her books.

Definitely 5* and this will be one I remember for a long time.

Thanks to Netgalley.

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I always look out for CL Taylor releases and they do t disappoint! I found it a bit tricky to keep up at first as it does jump from past to present quite a bit - I was amazed that Fran would book on a wellness retreat her sister had gone missing from! Told by 3 POV it was a refreshing and exciting read.

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Have read this authors books before, and knew this would be another page turner. A great story, full of intriguing characters. Would thoroughly recommend..

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I really enjoyed this book! I liked how it was told from different people’s perspectives and how it jumped back and forth between past and present. The storyline kept me engaged and guessing all the way to the end of the book. I love how the characters interacted and linked together too, great book!

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C. L. Taylor always delivers and this is no exception. Fran sets out to discover what happened to her sister who disappeared, presumed dead, on a retreat 3 years ago. It’s a fast paced read with a couple of twists you won’t see coming. For me, this is C. L. Taylor’s best to date.

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It was my first book by C.L.Taylor, but what enjoyable read it was!
The story is told from several POVs, which I personally like very much in books of this genre: 1) Fran - 51 years old woman, who is haunted by the mysterious disappearance / suicide of her sister Jenna nearly 3 yeaes ago during; 2) Kate - wife and assistant of Tom, who is the shrink and is trying to recover after the terrible story that happened at Malta during retreat session, organized by them, which ruined their lives; 3) Jenna - Fran's sister, who participated in the retreat in Malta and where something strange started to happen.
The plot twists in the book were either wow and in some moments unexpected or predictable, but still quite good and entwined with whole plot.
I also cannot omit how vivid and detailed the descriptions in the book are! And some parts were honestly creepy.
In general the book is very interesting and can be read in just one evening! Now I will definitely check other books by the author.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon Books and C. L. Taylor for providing me with the e-copy in exchange with my honest opinion.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advanced copy of C.L Taylor's "Her Last Holiday".

Her last holiday follows Fran on her quest to find out what has happened to her younger sister Jenna when she goes missing and is presumed dead whilst at a wellness retreat in Gozo.

The Chapters switch between Fran, Jenna and Kate and follow past and present storyline.

Her last holiday was easy to get hooked on, for the parts set in Gozo, it transported me to a holiday I feel like I haven't been on in forever- what with the current pandemic. It gave me an opportunity to escape to a different country even if it wasn't all that it may seem!!!.

I didn't see some of the plot twists coming towards the end of the storyline and that definitely kept me on my toes, you get to see the characters in a whole new light and again, people may not be what they seem.... This completely threw me off course because I can usually see where the plot is going. I loved the fact that I was about to be shocked and my emotions for characters completely swayed. We all love a happy ending and that's what we get, all loose ends tied up and well thought out and not rushed like some thriller endings.

***** Solid 5 stars from me! *****

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This was my first book by C.L.Taylor and I enjoyed it. It was a bit predictable in places, however it was easy to read and follow, easy to keep track of who was who. Would still recommend!

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When Fran's sister Jenna goes missing from a retreat on the island of Gozo everyone believes that she took her own life including Fran, but their mother has different ideas and believes that she was murdered by the SoulShrink owner Tom Wade.
After the death of two fellow retreat clients Tom Wade is arrested and sentenced.
After his release his wife Kate insisted that they set up another retreat this time in Wales.
Fran's mother insists that she attends and has already paid for the trip.
Will Fran be able to find out exactly what happened to Jenna in Gozo or is she putting her own life at risk?

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4.75 stars

This book cautions us about wellness gurus and exposes some of the truths that happen when clients aren’t looking. A few years ago, Jenna went on a retreat that ended in tragedy: she has gone missing, two people died and Tom, the guru has been charged and convicted for his negligence. The book starts on the date of his release, and it is told in three point of views: We follow Fran in the present as she tries to figure out what happened to her sister 3 years ago, and signs up to the newest retreat Tom is running. We follow Jenna in the past as she takes us through her experience in the retreat up to the accident and her disappearance. We also follow Kate, Tom’s wife, through whom we learn about the behind the scenes from both the present and the disastrous retreat.

I absolutely loved this book, it was enthralling, engaging, fast paced and original. I enjoyed and partake of Taylor’s take on some self-help guru’s and beyond that I really loved how all the characters were presented and developed. All the voices were clearly their own, and Taylor brought us on the journey of each woman’s feelings and motivation. I love when you read a book and understand the character’s actions, even if you disagree with them, you see a character congruently make choices within their character. Taylor gave us this in this book.

I really loved the ambiance of this book, and how the plot was executed. It was a consistently good book and I wish it hadn’t finished! I do have to say that even though Taylor played fair on this book, I feel that she threaded a very thin line with one of the twists. Not enough to take away from my thorough enjoyment, though.

I am definitely reading more books from this author! I found her style was a perfect fit for me!
Thank you, Avon Books UK, C.L. Taylor and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of “Her Last Holiday” in exchange for an honest review.

#Netgalley #herlastholiday

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Sometimes you just need a book that you can chomp into and finish in one sitting, and if that’s what you’ve been looking for – C L Taylor is the author for you. A new book from this megastar of the thriller world is always a hotly anticipated event, and Her Last Holiday is no exception: it’s packed with dynamic, highly developed characters, brilliantly unexpected twists that just keep on coming, as well as a totally bizarre – but therefore completely believable – set-up. Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared while on a wellness retreat in Malta, and is presumed dead. Two other people died the same day due to the negligence of the charismatic Tom, the ‘Soul Shrink’ who led the life-changing experience. Having now served his time in prison, he’s busily setting up a new retreat in Wales, so – encouraged by her grief-stricken mother – Fran conceals her identity and signs up for the Soul Shrink’s latest experience, to try and reach the truth about Jenna. But who’s actually calling the shots? Grab a blanket and your favourite bar of chocolate, and settle in for a ride…

As featured in the February issue of Cambridge Edition Magazine

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Her Last Holiday by CL Taylor
I give this book 4stars

2 years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared at a Soul Shrink retreat in Gozo
Tom Wade, has just been released from prison for the deaths of two other people. But what happened to the third victim: Jenna.
Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

This clever storyline is told by Fran and Kate (past and present) and intermingled with Jennas story of what happened at the retreat in Gozo.l loved the way the 3 perceptions slightly contradicted one another so l just didn’t know who to believe.Plenty of suspense,twists and mystery combined with short chapters that made me want to just keep on reading and not put it down.Another great read from an author l really enjoy.
With thanks to Netgalley,CL Taylor and Avon Books UK for my chance to read and review it.

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Excellent.. Thank you so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. Her last Holiday is my first book by C.L. Taylor so I never know what to expect when starting a new author. I really enjoy the style of writing that Taylor displays. She knows how to grab a readers attention and keep it by keeping the reader in constant suspense. This is a book you will stay up late to read. I liked the past and present perspectives of the characters as well as the way she develops each of her characters so you get to know them, feel attached to them. Overall, what really got me was the twists in this book. I changed suspects about three times and was still blown away by the ending. I would highly recommend Her Last Holiday to others and I’ll be checking out Taylor’s other books as well. Thank you for the opportunity.

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I did enjoy this book and really liked the characters bit I can't help comparing it to Sleep which to me is the best of her work.

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Review - Her Last Holiday
By C. L. Taylor
4.0 stars
Totally unpredictable!!!
Her Last Holiday is a mystery/thriller about Fran’s quest to discover what really happened to her sister Jenna while on a self help retreat in Gozo. While the storyline is intriguing I found the constant changing from past to present tense confusing at times in the beginning. Once I got the feel of the author’s style I was good.
I actually began to really enjoy the brief interjections from each characters point of view. The character portrayals were great... especially Jenna and Fran... sisters who are typical polar opposites. The other characters were well done also with a lot of different personalities emerging as the storyline progresses.
During Fran’s searching for the “truth” family relationships are revealed and missed opportunities are questioned.
Once Fran steps up to the demands of her mother and books a retreat with Tom Wade with SoulShrink which by the way was the very last place her sister was seen alive... the story soars! Can Fran find out what really happened to Jenna? Were Tom or Kate to blame? All I will say is that I would have NEVER predicted the outcome!!!
This was my first book by C.L. Taylor and can’t wait for the next.
Thank you NetGalley, Avon & HarperCollins Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. #NetGalley #AvonBooks #HarperCollins

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I’d love to hear someone disagree but I don’t think you can go wrong with a novel by C.L. Taylor. Unfortunately she did write one about a secluded place with a select yet big cast of characters at the same time as many other authors did (is this the 2020/2021 trend?) so it’s maybe harder to stand out this time. One thing is for sure though, I haven’t read this kind of ending in any of the other novels I read recently.

But let’s start at the beginning and I’ll tell you what that’s about. Fran’s sister Jenna went missing when she went on a retreat in Gozo, organised by the charismatic Tom and his wife Kate. Their company Soul Shrink offers to heal people from trauma, freeing them from anxieties and letting them face the future with optimism instead of fear. At the time the police ruled it as a suicide but Jenna’s parents, especially her mum Geraldine, aren’t so sure so they instruct her sister Fran to attend a retreat incognito and to find out what happened to Jenna.

Her Last Holiday might not have had the same power over me as Strangers, hence the four instead of five stars, but it really was a very enjoyable read with plenty of suspicion to cast. At first all my thoughts settled on one particular person and I’m convinced everyone will have this person in mind as a perfect suspect to commit foulplay and who you’ll love to hate (I really really enjoy it when that happens), but then some of the other group members slowly come more into view and before you know it you don’t trust anyone anymore. It seems that Fran isn’t the only one there under an alter ego. The novel recounts both Jenna’s time at the retreat and Fran’s investigation and the alternation between these two time frames really kept me on my toes. I don’t think there’s anything left to say without spoiling the plot, so to wrap up all you need to remember is that it’s a solid good read so if you love a good mystery novel you’ll find everything you want in this one, and the ending is quite a nice bonus!

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A couple of weeks ago, I was in a reading slump, and I told Cally Taylor that I would read this book as I know all of her books keep me hooked. However, I decided it wouldn’t be fair on this book to read it in the frame of mind I was in. So, I waited until I’d got my reading mojo back before diving in. I’m so glad I did, even though I know I would have loved it a few weeks ago. I also know I loved it more by waiting.
This was a truly enthralling read and didn’t let me down in terms of grippingness. I couldn’t put it down and think I’ve read this quicker than any other I’ve read this year. I needed to know what happened to Jenna.
So many variations of what could have happened ran through my mind while reading, but I just couldn’t piece it all together. So I kept turning those pages super fast so I could find out. There was, unfortunately, a typo (that I hope has been sorted before going to print) that gave one of the twists away. However, I try not to let errors like this annoy me when reading ARCs of books as I know they will get sorted in final proofs. It was just such a shame that it gave something away and wasn’t just a simple typo. I wish I could let the author know where the error was, but I was in too much of a hurry to keep reading that I didn’t make a note of it.
The story is filled with drama, suspense and lots of surprises. I was a little disappointed by the character’ personalities. I did find them all to be a little bland. I found it quite amusing when Fran describes her sister Jenna as being bland when I’d been thinking the same thing about her. Fran is quite feisty and doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone, but she doesn’t really have much about her that makes her special.
There are quite a lot of timelines to keep on top of, and I know many readers struggle with this. There are the ‘Then’ sections following Jenna in the past and the ‘Now’ from Fran and Kate’s points of view. However, there are other time jumps during both sections when the characters are reminiscing, so you really have to concentrate to keep up. This is made especially difficult with Fran, Kate and Tom in the present at wellness retreat and Jenna, Kate and Tom in the past are at a wellness retreat. There are lots of similarities between both retreats, and I did find myself having to remind myself what time period I was in. However, I was reading so fast I just sort of went with the flow and let the story wash over me.
So, overall, another fantastic read from C.L. Taylor. She didn’t let me down!

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Bravo....!
An idyllic wellness retreat on the beautiful island of Gozo may not be all it seems in this wholly addictive, compulsive suspense which shows C.L. Taylor on top form. A taut and chilling plot populated with a credible cast makes for fully satisfying and utterly escapist read. Bravo!

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Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

This is a really good psychological thriller and my first by this author. I binge read this in two sittings, I was glued to it. It is told from the perspective of three characters and the suspense was well done all the way through. It is a bit slow at the beginning but it gets better as the story unfolds. I found the characters, in general, unlikeable and at points made you uncomfortable but it doesn't disrupt the flow of the book, I think it adds more to the story. There were some things that could be left out or explained differently but overall it is a good thriller.

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I very much enjoyed this book however I did find the fact that almost every character had two names, I regularly got Kate & Fran/Geraldine confused. The plot worked it way out but I actually wanted a little more to find out more about Fran & Jenna

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A promising read by this great author, as usual.... I enjoyed the premise & the story clipped along at a great pace. Thanks for the ARC!

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Another wonderful tale from CL Taylor. Two years before Fran's younger sister Jenna had gone to a retreat on Gozo and didn't come back. The police investigation ruled it as suicide, but there has never been a body. The same night the Jenna went missing two other people from the retreat died whilst the man who was the figurehead fo retreat fled., but was subsequently sentenced to prison for his part in their deaths.
Now he is being released from prision and Kate, his wife, has planned a comeback retreat in Wales. Fran ends up on the retreat with a view to finding out from the man himself what happened to Jenna.
The story is very good and I changed my mind about all the characters several times and the ending was a litle unexpected.

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This is fast paced practically all the way through, which took its toll on my nerves (in a good way). You don’t get to relax at all, and I don’t often read books like that, so it made a change for me. I liked the setting - it’s a ‘retreat’ environment with believable characters, and lots of things to set you running in the wrong direction. There’re some creepy bits with hidden cameras – something that never fails to make my skin crawl, but that’s the modern world for ya.
Good ending too- with the person who turned out not to be the main villain, still being villain-esque. Also, I usually guess the baddie, but didn’t here!

My first C.L. Taylor, but not my last - although I will have to psych myself up to cope with the constant level of dread if they’re anything like this one.

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Tom Wade, leader of Soul Shrink wellness retreats, is about to be released from prison after serving a sentence for the deaths of two people at his last event in Gozo. His wife Kate is determined to relaunch their careers; however, a third person also disappeared during the retreat…Fran’s sister Jenna, and Fran is determined to find out what happened to her.

Her Last Holiday is a new thriller, full of twists and with an array of potentially suspicious characters.

The story is told from three female perspectives: Jenna (two years ago on her retreat), Fran (investigating her sister’s disappearance in the present day) and Kate (trying to rebuild her life after her husband’s sentence). All three are strong and very difference voices, yet all troubled in their own way.

It’s a bit of a slowburn thriller but does pick up a lot of pace as it progresses and, although I did see one of the twists coming, the rest were unpredictable, making this a really fun read.

If you like a mystery full of betrayal, obsession, troubled family dynamics and secrets upon secrets – this is definitely one for you!

There was a typo on page 292 though with the wrong character name, which kind of gave away one of the twists earlier than planned.

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Cally Taylor is an author who delivers something different with every novel. The only consistent thing is how good a read they all are.

This one is a totally absorbing narrative that spun me in quite a few different directions as the story unfolded.

Fran is trying to find the true story regarding her sister's apparent suicide at a health retreat two years prior. A great backdrop for the story, and some very interesting characters within the tale.

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This book kept me engrossed from beginning to end and I couldn't put it down. Loved the twists and turns of the story and the different characters. An intriguing and sometimes nerve jangling read, brilliant and consistent storyline which kept me interested.
C.L Taylor writes a great story, I have also enjoyed her previous books very much and can't wait to read her next.

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This thriller sucked me in right from the first page. This is my first book by CL Taylor and I will definitely read more by her.

Jenna goes missing on a wellness retreat and the leader, tom, gets put in jail for her "accidental death". He is released two years later and shortly after, holds another wellness retreat. Her older sister, Fran, pretends to be someone else (per her mother's request) to try to get Tom to tell what happened to Jenna.

This book was full of twists and kept my attention the whole way through.

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I adore all of C L Taylor's previous books and this was no exception! Her normal wonderful moreish-ness but with the added twist of a holiday resort (sort of!). Throughout this book it was so hard to know who was going to be the good and bad guys! I loved that. I will always read what Cally writes as she is definitely one of my favourite thriller writers. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn/Ruth Ware/Paula Hawkins who are looking to branch out to some new authors. Big recommendation from me with a lot of love for her writing!

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Oh I do love a good C.L. Taylor thriller and this one is another classic. I tore through this in a single day, intrigued by the premise and determined to find out what really happened to Fran's sister, Jenna, all those years ago. I must admit to being prone to more than a small amount of scepticism when it comes to self-help gurus and retreats such as the one depicted in this book, and having spent time with Tom Wade, Karen and 'Soul Shrink' I'm not readily inclined to change my mind. Not that they are all as dangerous as this retreat turns out to be, I'm sure, but the book has done little to convert me to the dark side.

The story is told from the series of three women - Fran, a teacher and whose sister went missing at Soul Shrink's final, fatal, retreat in Gozo; Kate, financial and marital partner to soul Shrink's resident guru, Tom Wade and Jenna, Fran's sister, and whose disappearance is the catalyst for the story that is about to unfold. Set both in the present day and on that fateful week three years earlier, the author slowly allows the truth to unfold, keeping tension high and readers completely guessing. We know something happened to Jenna - her family and the authorities suspect she committed suicide - but with no note, no body and nobody who can give them closure, the question remains, why? Why did she disappear and, if the worst did happen, why did she do it. Well ... the truth is all laid out there but clues are drop fed, suspicion awakened and the shocks are all set to be unleashed at just the perfect moment, as CL Taylor is well skilled at.

I kind of liked the character of Fran. She is far from perfect - spiky, intolerant of others and generally anti-social to be fair. She is my kindred spirit, which is possibly why I was happy (ish) in her company. There are reasons behind her defensiveness, least of which being her overbearing mother who coerces her into going to Soul Shrink's latest retreat in the first place, but seeing her determination and her natural suspicion of everything and everybody, her in built cynicism, really brought a smile to my face.

Kate - well now she is quite the character. The author has pitched her perfectly, her obsessive and controlling nature combined with a less than healthy dose of paranoia making for a heady mix. At times she appears to be the perfect wife, devoted to her husband and sticking by thin through. thick and thin, yet you are always made to wonder if there is more lurking under the surface. As for Jenna, she is far from perfect but the groundwork is laid throughout so that we can see her as part victim and part orchestrator of her own fate, however awful that may finally become. And the charismatic Tom wade - conman, victim or saviour. Well - jury's out here to be fair. There may be some acute observations hidden in in his therapy sessions, he certainly pushes Fran to the limit. Or it may just all be psychological guff and hokum. He certainly charms the pants off the ladies in the book but you should read it and decide for yourself.

The many characters who lurk around the periphery of the two retreats leave us with a whole host of suspects in the event that Jenna's fate was as awful as we may suppose. They are the perfect blend of the neurotic, the angry and the larger. than life eccentric, and when some of them appear on the latest incarnation of the Soul Shrink retreat in Wales, you know the scene is set for quite a dramatic finale. The author uses setting perfectly, from the atmospheric climate of the Welsh countryside and the relative danger of the pursuits the residents undertake, through to the more sunnier but seemingly no less threatening setting of a luxury hotel in Gozo, each location adds to the drama and the tension of their particular aspects of the story. You can feel the threat quite overtly in dull, occasionally wild and often chilling Wales, the beauty of Gozo serving to hide some of the biggest shocks of all.

It certainly wasn't what I expected, a mixture of deep psychological probing in which all of the characters' fears and flaws are laid bare, leading to a dramatic and pulse pounding climax in which all of the secrets of the past are revealed, but I certainly enjoyed it, completing the book in a single sitting.Pacing is perfect and the mystery kept me hooked. If you're a fan of the author this is definitely recommended.

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I think this is Taylor’s best book yet. Gripping and tense, it kept me guessing right to the end. The best thing about Cally’s writing is the characterisation and how she explores family dynamics; the sisters’ relationship here was fascinating and totally believable. I’m looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for this ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

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I do love C.L. Taylor’s books so I did start reading this with high expectations and I wasn’t disappointed! There’s no shortage of very well formed characters starting with prickly Fran who likes to keep people at arms length but has to let people close when she goes on a retreat in Wales to try to discover what happened to her sister Jenna when she went on a retreat a few years back and disappeared. Told from both Fran’s perspective now and troubled Jenna’s perspective then we encounter the discombobulating retreat leaders and varied but intriguing other participants not to mention Fran and Jenna’s domineering mother. It took me a little while to get to know the characters but once I did I was engrossed in their stories and with the foibles that most characters displayed it was very difficult working out who could be trusted and who couldn’t never mind what happened to Jenna!

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I love CL Taylor’s books and I was lucky to be given a preview of this new book by NetGalley. She is one of the best psychological thriller writers around with lots of twists and intrigue the book definitely hooks you straight away.
I think to talk too much about the plot would spoil it other than to say she goes backwards and forwards in time so that you have to keep reading to unravel the plot. With each page you learn a little more about what really happened to Jenna at the Soul Shrink retreat where she went to be healed by the charismatic Tom Wade. When her sister Fran reluctantly attends another revival of Soul Shrink to try and discover the truth she puts herself in far more danger than she could have anticipated. Who can she trust and is everyone really as they seem?
This is a great easy read with good characterisation and I really enjoyed it.

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This was amazing! An edge of your seat, can’t put down, read into the wee hours kind of book! I devoured this!

The story follows Fran, on a quest to find out what happened to her sister on a healing retreat in Gozo. That’s all I can really say without giving spoilers but I was invested in the characters who are complex and likeable. I kept changing my mind who the bad guy was too. C L Taylor writes so well that the book just flows. She kept my interest all the way through and it took me a while to puzzle it out but when I did, the drama didn’t stop there and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough.

Such a great, fast paced, thrilling read! Another great book by CL Taylor, which I would 100% recommend!

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Her Last Holiday, C.L. Taylor, AVON HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2021
Thank you, Net Galley, for providing me with this book to review. A four and a half star novel.

C.L. Taylor brings together memorable characters; a satisfying plot, which, while having inspiring twists and turns does not rely on them; and experiences that resonate with current concerns.
Fran Fitzgerald introduces the plot, with her character, behaviour and recall all quickly establishing the work as one of a mystery to be solved, arresting protagonists and family conflict. Fran is a marvellous character, strong, courageous, determined – and difficult. She prefers physical distance to expressing human emotion and has a fraught relationship with her younger sister and mother. Fran is a fifty-one-year-old teacher, at first meeting a passenger in a hot tube carriage, boiling with anger having begun the day with a UTS, a command from the Deputy Head that she partake in the supervision of a difficult student group and problems with a photo copier. But all of this, she thinks, is minor in comparison with the past two years. This thought has little time to be more than a faint wisp of a past event, which may impact the future, when Fran is drawn into an incident of sexual harassment, with which she deals superbly.
Jenna Fitzgerald, Fran’s younger sister, is introduced in the next chapter, in events that have taken place two years before. She is also a mature woman, although much younger than Fran. The third major female character, Kate, returns the story to the present, when she arrives at a prison to meet her husband who has served two years for an undisclosed crime. Fran and Jenna’s mother, defensive seventy-three-year-old Geraldine Fitzgerald, has started the events that lead to Jenna’s trip to @SoulShrink, a ‘Self-help for your soul’ group two years before, and Fran’s venture to the re-creation of the group in the present.
While there are several men, not least of whom is Tom Wade, and other women, Fran, Jenna, Kate, and Geraldine are the characters whose stories, motivations and personalities govern the action. They are all so well worth knowing, even at their worst. Each holds the key to a mystery, largely focussing on Jenna’s disappearance two years before.
C.L. Taylor’s strengths lie in an ability to write a novel that draws in the reader (so much so that to leave it unfinished is difficult) combined with a great capacity for reflecting on serious issues, without impeding the plot. The events at @SoulShrink, past and present, while at times sinister can also be the matter of comedy; deadly incidents are at the same time horrifying and perplexing. It is the latter with which the novel reader and observer of current events could come together – what is the explanation for the behaviour of the @SoulShrink clients? The owners’ interests seem clear. And yet, what does really motivate Tom Wade? Kate seems to show her hand at the end, but she is a complex woman and what seems a simple explanation for her behaviour might bear further thought.
Her Last Holiday is to be commended for its excellent female characters, good plotting which never disappoints, and the polished way in which the ends are tied up. This novel, while using intriguing twists does not rely on them for shock to avoid solid exposition. In keeping with this, the other literary devices, characterisation, events and moving between the past and present work smoothly, bringing together events that build towards a conclusion that makes sense while retaining a sense of optimism.

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Another triumph from CL Taylor, quickly becoming my go to thriller author.

As always with Taylor's books, there is a slow and steady drip feed of information that lets you think you've solved the mystery, until it crescendos into a climax of twists and turns that presents events in a way you couldn't even dream.

The character Fran was abrasive and unlikeable at timeS, which just made her more believable. And the tension in her family was palpable.

Having read two of CL Taylor's other books this year I am convinced they are the creme de la creme of the genre.

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Another dysfunctional family gone awry—what all good mysteries should start with. You’ll be caught up in a few murders (solved and unsolved), a resort that is supposed to improve your mental health (by taking you on dangerous adventures to face your fears!!!) and the adoration of followers to a guru who promises that they will shed their issues at the SoulShrink retreat. Always there’s the power struggle; who has it compared to who wants and needs it. What results is a cast of characters that were shady, selfish and self-serving……..what we all like in a book.
There were times when the chapters would revert back in time and characters changed their names within the story which made me slow down my reading pace…….probably a good thing because you don’t want to miss a thing in this book.

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Jenna has a sister Fran . Jenna has a secret .
Wow ! Where to start on unravelling this book ? It certainly had lots of secrets, and characters who aren't quite who they seem , or even who they want the world to believe they are .
It starts off on an island retreat and carries on in another retreat in the U.K.
Full of twists and turns , the plot is full of suspense and takes you down paths before turning you quickly down another . I loved it.

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This was fantastic from start to finish. I really did not want to put it down. C.L. Taylor really knows how to hold her reader's attention right up until the very last page. The characters were very well written and setting here was totally fitting and truly captivating. Having holidayed in Gozo in the past I could totally envision their happenings. The story was emotional too at times and totally credible as Fran drew closer to learning the truth about her sister's disappearance. As always with Taylor she writes evil very well, and Tom was very unlikable I felt, he instantly came across as comebody capable of doing all of which he was accused. This was a real page turner, one I would really recommend.

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A gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first page. I loved the style of writing, loved the characters and the plot was full of twists and turns when I least expected them.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a brillant gripping thriller/mystery, with an unexpected ending to the story. Highly recommend this book, a fantastic read.

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I think this was my first book by this author--thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc. An interesting mystery with a lot of drama. having three sisters myself, I loved the premise of a sister looking into what happened to her sister. With a cast of several excellent suspects at the retreat, I was entertained and wanted to get to the end to find out the real story!! A light beach read.

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This was a very enjoyable book, an easy read and a good escape. It has a 'now' and 'then' mix of chapters flitting between present day events and those in the past - also from the perspective of different characters of the book - weaving together the threads of the mystery. Fran's sister Jenna disappeared during a Soul Shrink wellness retreat, but her family is detemined to find out what really happened to her. It's set in two different retreats: present day in Wales and also at the past retreat in Gozo which gives it a nice holiday feel, except with a convincing thriller edge. Some of the characters were difficult to like but intriguing and as the story unfolds, the truth of what went on is revealed with plenty of surprises. The ending is clever and unexpected.

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This book is based around the POV of three characters.
1. Jenna- Headed abroad to a retreat 3 years ago and 'comitted suicide'.
2. Kate- The wife of Tom the leader of the retreat where Jenna went missing and Fran enrols tk get answers.
3. Fran- Jenna's older sister who is determined to find out what happened to her little sister 3 years ago and is ready to risk everything to find out.
*
There are lots of twists in this novel. I couldn't put it down. I don't want to give any major spoilers away but I had an inkling on what was going to happen at the end so I just had to keep reading to find out if I was right. To not give any spoilers away here is a brief review.
*
Likes
- How the characters weren't likeable (but I weirdly did like them?!) I enjoyed that some were unhinged, jealous, abrupt and sly.
- The whole plot line and the pace of it throughout.
- Different female characters POV chapters.
*
Dislikes (well sort of... being picky)
- The name changing. I got confused at points with everyone changing their names Phoenix was Alan, etc.

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I have read a few books by this Author so I was excited to be offered this book to read and I wasn't disappointed .Told in two timelines and set in a Wellness Retreat in Wales and in Gozo it tells the story of Fran who sets out to find out why her younger sister Jenna committed suicide two years previously in Gozo.There were some great characters, some clever twists and turns and nothing was as it seems .I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading this Authors next one .Many thanks to the Publisher, the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

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I always enjoy C L Taylor novels, and this one didn’t disappoint. It had me gripped through all the twists and turns. I read it in 24 hours - I couldn’t put it down! If you’re a fan you don’t want to miss this one and if you’re new to this author, this is a good example of her work.

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A really great read, had me hooked from beginning to end, finished in 24 hours and loved every page, great charecters and a great story brought to a satisfactory conclusion

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I always look forward to C.L. Taylor's books and this one is one of her most addictive yet. It takes a little while to get to know the characters but soon the plot draws you in and will keep you gripped.

It flicks back and forth between Jenna, who supposedly disappears from a wellness retreat and her sister who, in the current day, is trying to find out what happened to her. Is she dead? If so, who killed her? We also follow the story from the point of view of Kate, struggling to regain the ground lost when her husband was accused of being responsible for two deaths around the time Jenna disappeared. He's out of prison now and she desperately wants things to go back to the way they were. She's a brittle character and doesn't always read situations correctly and is all the more realistic for it. In fact, the characters are one of the strengths of this book. All very human and very believable. Just the mix of people you'd expect to meet at a retreat! In fact, despite the murdering and the irritating people, it made me really miss going on spa breaks... Fran is a great character. We find out what makes her the way she is and we also empathise with her struggles and her attempt to soften and to adapt.

I was thoroughly invested in this story and was sorry when it came to an end, even though I raced through it to see what happened. A great read!

Thanks to #Netgalley and #AvonBooks.

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Wow! This book was so good. It was definitely worth the read. Seeing Fran's transformation from guarded to open was really heartwarming. The ending was a mind blower for me. I was absolutely shocked. I love the idea of going on a therapeutic retreat like the one mentioned in the book. It would be quite interesting. Full of some amazing characters this is one of my favorites. A must read in my opinion.

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Well CL Taylor does it again with this novel about self help experts and a missing sister. When Tom is released from prison after serving time for the death of two participants in his retreat Fran is yet again forced to confront the fact she does not know what happened to her sister and the last person to see her alive Tom is the only person she can get answers from. When the retreats are restarted Fran attends in the hope of finally finding out the truth but maybe the truth is darker and more twisted than she can ever imagine and is she risking her own life to find out.

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Super twisty and enjoyable read.

I enjoyed the way the book had several perspectives and the characters were interesting and well developed.

The premise makes it stand out as it uses places that are supposed to help people but possibly aren’t.

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Tom Wade (and his wife Kate) run SoulShrink, wellness retreats that help you get better but what happens when 3 people die and they charge you for accidental man-slaughter?
The story follows three very different women: Jenna (in the past) a troubled 37 yo woman who struggles due to her relationship with her family; Fran (in the present) a 51 yo woman who is Jenna's sister, has a lot of regrets and attends another retreat trying to find out what happened to her sister and Kate (also in the present) is married to Tom but hardly anyone knows.
I loved the mystery in the first half, there was a LOT going on and I couldn’t stop reading. I struggled a little with the second half and the plot twist didn’t surprise me so much, except for certain people but it was such a nice and quick read.

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Thank you Netgalley and C.L Taylor for a copy of this title. Wow. I Loved it soooo much. For the first half of the book I KNEW who did it. I was so convinced I knew what was going on. Then, it changed and changed again. I have to admit that the end just floored me. Thank you C.L Taylor for again giving us a page turner and plot twister right to the end....

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I enjoyed this book - it was an easy read although I did find that I got a bit confused about the different character names - and the whole retreat situation seemed a bit far fetched at times. That said, it was entertaining and wrapped up well at the end - so I would recommend it.

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C L Taylor never disappoints. Her Last Holiday was another incredible read that was difficult to put down.

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I really enjoyed this book, especially the characters and the interesting setting - very new and different.
I also enjoyed the twists and turns - this book will keep you guessing!

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Another fantastic C.L Taylor thriller!

As with all C.L Taylor's thrillers, I love her writing style. They are always so engaging and interesting. This book was no different.

This book kept me hooked till the very end. I did not see the ending coming at all.

I loved the concept of this book. Even though, I've read a few thrillers based on wellness retreats, there was lots of mystery and twists in this book to keep it interesting.

C.l Taylor's books never fail to disappoint.

Highly recommend if you are looking for an engaging, interesting and gripping psychological thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat.

TW: violence, suicide references, sexual assault and murder

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A great who done it mystery/thriller. A fabulous read. I could honestly not put this book down, I was intrigued to find out who had taken Jenna away from her family.

We meet Fran, Jenna and Kate in this book, told from all of their points of views. Fran is Jenna's sister, Jenna has disappeared three years ago whilst on a retreat and Kate is one of the retreats leaders. It was said that Jenna killed herself but her sister Fran feels like this is the wrong outcome of Jenna's disappearance, so goes on a retreat with the same leaders as the ones Jenna went on. We are taken from the present to the past throughout this book....and wow it makes for a really good read.

I enjoyed the thought provoking characters and how they were portrayed within the writing.

I loved the twist at the end of the book and will be reading more of C L Taylors books.

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Her Last Holiday runs in the vein of the current trend for books set in retreats, groups, and places where strangers are brought together. It's a trend I'm enjoying and Her Last Holiday certainly works well with it.

I've enjoyed most of C. L. Taylor's books and found this novel is one of her best. I liked the juxtaposition of locations from the exotic to the more mundane. I also enjoyed the variety of well described characters with their foibles and secrets.

Fran is an interesting character who acknowledges her flaws. I find this refreshing in writing as it's honest and relatable. I particularly liked how she described her complex relationships with family members, including her missing, presumed deceased sister.

This is the perfect book for some escapism along with many secrets revealed. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my early copy. Publication date is 29th April 2021.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this. An intriguing plot and had me picking it up at every opportunity. Full of twists and turns and narcissistic personalities.

Remember what you see is not always what you get. Some of the characters were portrayed in such a way that left you uncertain of your intentions. We’re they genuine or were they out for themselves and one outcome certainly surprised me.

The main character had an aversion to one thing in particular and I felt it was not fully explained. Not sure if I missed it. I would have liked to know.

As with all her books, I would recommend.

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I have read afew books by this author and found this to be another well paced read. There was the right amount of suspense and intrigue plus a great ‘whodunnit’ which you would not be able to guess and I always enjoy this.

Some concentration is required with some of the characters having two names and the different timelines so I would say don’t try to read this alongside other books at the same time.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the arc of Her Lat Holiday by C.L Taylor.

4 star read- This follows Tom Wade whom is the public face of SoulShrink and is set to be released from Prison!. after he has served 2 years following some certain tragedies back in Gozo. Kate whom is his wife is waiting for him and as well as this anxious about rebooting SoulShrink and get their lives back to some normality. Then there is Fran whom is a teacher in ICT and her younger sister named Jenna disappeared two years ago in Gozo. Tom and Kate then decide to offer an retreat to Wales, Fran tries to go on this retreat to try find out what happened to her sister. Story is told from the past as in 2 years ago and there are 2/3 POV'S including Fran's as well as Tom/Kate's.

A great gripping and interesting thriller made you want more, read within 1 day.
Highly Recommend

4 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐

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I enjoyed C.L. Taylor's 'Her Last Holiday.' Told through alternating points of view in two different periods of time, Her Last Holiday was an exciting mystery that kept me engaged until the end. The story revolves around Fran (in present day) attempting to solve her sister's mysterious disappearance from a retreat two year earlier. The reader gets to watch the mystery unfold through the narrative from 2 years ago to the investigation today.

I feel it is more a mystery than a thriller, though there are some nail biter moments. C.L. Taylor introduces us to some very complicated characters and not all of them are what they seem. Her Last Holiday had me guessing until the end with a very satisfying conclusion. I definitely enjoyed this book!

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Anything C.L. Taylor writes, I will read.

I pounced upon to opportunity to read this novel the moment it presented itself, and once again I was not disappointed.

Highly recommend!

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What are the odds of me reading two books in a row about DNA ancestry tests?

"Her Last Holiday" is a pretty cool book. It actually touched on subjects that grind my nerves in real life, particularly these new self help gurus. It gave me a kind of joy reading about the retreats' disasters. Although fictional, I think this shines light on how easy it is to fool people into believing your crookery and spending their money to hear you talk crap.

I appreciated the plot twists and, despite not being a complete WOW, the end was solid. The characters were well constructed, and I found it easy to relate to them.

Definitely recommend it. It was a very fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this copy in exchange for my honest review!

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A thrilling read .This novel focuses on Fran's family and the secrets and disappointments,and the hurt that all of them have been through in their lives. When Jenna discovered a family secret lives are changed forever, and when a tragedy occurs things will never be the same again. A good mix of characters and a great plot that keeps you gripped till the end, and all that happens can the broken family finally find some happiness. A 5🌟read

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I generally enjoyed this book however I found it a very slow burn and the ending was disappointing. I found the multiple perspectives a little confusing, particularly near the start where I had to try and remember who everyone was.

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This is my first book from Taylor and I think I'll be checking out the others now. I found the writing style engaging and easy to read and overall the story was really interesting. There were parts I found hard to believe - a mother sending her daughter to a retreat hosted by the man she thinks is responsible for the disappearance of her second daughter. While I can certainly get on board with a mother doing all she can to get the answers she needs, I just didn't think this was it. Yet, this is only a minor moment of the book, so only a minor irritation. It is easy enough to look past this and enjoy the book for what it is. A great mystery novel. I definitely recommend!

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Thank you C L Taylor and Netgalley for the advance copy. Jenna disappeared two years ago during a Soul Shrink retreat in Gozo. Her flip-flops and some of her blood was found on the edge of a cliff and suicide is suspected. Jenna's family believe she would never take her own life and suspect foul play. Her mother books herself into another retreat to find out more. After a bad fall she sends her other daughter Fran to find out the truth. A brilliant page turner. C L Taylor at her best

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Before i begin I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an Anvanced Readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm speechless.
This has been one of the best books I've ever read.
I'll start with the more technical part of the book such as structure and content. I loved how the author let the principal characters express their vision of the events in every POV, I had no trouble reading and understanding what was happening, even when I was faced with a lot of information at once.
As for the author's writing skills, it is tough to write different points of view while adding more detail to each character's story, and C.L did it perfectly. I want to highlight this point because it is vital to the book, how this book was written is fundamental to the story.

Speaking about the story, i loved every page of it. Fran's personality and Jenna's past made me not want to put the book down. From start to finish i was invested in the story but when i got to the middle, it was my breaking point, I was obsessed.

It is an excellent book, very well executed.

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Absolutely loved this book, it was a real page turner that kept me guessing until the end. Superbly written, looking forward to the next offering from C.L Taylor, will definitely be reading it.

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This is the first of C.L Taylor's books that I have read & I am going to read them all now!
Jenna disappears, presumed dead, on a wellness retreat in Gozo run by the famous Tom Wade & his wife Kate. Years later Tom is released from prison for his part in the deaths of the two other people who died at the retreat and Jenna's family want answers.
I was totally captivated from the very start and although there are a lot of characters, they all have strong personalities that leap off the page. The writing is very clever and the storyline totally intriguing. A fantastic book that I loved and I would like to say thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

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All the things I love in a missing person mystery, sibling fallouts, weird hippy vibes, small closed location and limited set of suspects, with enough curveballs and twists to make it interesting throughout.
This was right up my street, really readable and highly recommended!

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Another favorite by a great author. The plot of the story was very well written. The author really draws the reader in as you read. Not what I was expecting.

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I continue to enjoy the books I've picked up from this author. I thought this was a successful use of a dual timeline, because I felt like even if the story had been told completely linearly, it still would have been a compelling thriller. Overall, this gave me the kind of claustrophobic vibes of an isolated setting along with a cutting commentary on the wellness/self-help influencer space. I didn't love the way the character arc ended with our main character Fran, but other than that, this was a really fun one!

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Another thriller from this author which was devoured rather promptly.

The story is told from various points of view as Fran embarks on a mission (thrust upon her by her domineering mother) to get to the bottom of the death of her sister.

Fran embarks on a retreat run by Tom (who was recently released from prison as a result of deaths on his last retreat) and his wife Kate (another voice in the story). Both women are alert to all guests but for different reasons. Kate: trying to protect Tom from unwanted journalists and Fran: trying to find answers to her sister's death. As the retreat progresses and Fran uncovers more, we learn that perhaps not everyone is as they seem and Fran is in danger. Running alongside this narrative, we revert back in time to the POV of her sister Jenna to uncover more about the circumstances around her death.

Warning: just as you think you have the answers..... a C.L Taylor throws you right off course!

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Review of Her Last Holiday - C L Taylor. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I really enjoyed this murder mystery type thriller. Fran’s sister, Jenna, went missing two years ago on a self help retreat. Her blood was found on the edge of a cliff, but her body was never found.

2 years on and Fran has been convinced by her mum to go back to that same retreat to get some answers. The host and his wife, along with some returning guests, are determined to keep their secrets hidden.

There are so many subtle and clever clues in this book, it’s very much a ‘made me think’ read which was great. It was very unpredictable and many characters weren’t quote who you’re first led to believe. From secrets and lies to murders and revenge, this book has it all. Such a good book! 👏🏻

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This was sooo good! I enjoyed the characters and book. Kept my interest all the way until the end, didn’t want it to end. Thank you Avon, Netgalley and CL Taylor for this book in exchange for an honest review. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating from me.

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Couldn't make my mind up as to whether to give 4 or 5 stars - so 4.5 rounded down.
This is a very good book, well written without any 'annoying' (for me) detailed paragraphs that don't really add much to the book (again in my opinion).
The book uses a fairly standard chapter based approach of one 'then' (Jenna) and two 'now' (Fran and Kate). You know that you will have to wait until the final chapters to find out what happened to Jenna two to three years ago. I was very impressed with the final chapters which are after you know who, what and how. The actual ending is close to my very favourite endings where you are thinking - well that's everything sorted but is it?
My only criticism and this is what probably stopped my from giving 5 stars is that I struggled to get depth from the main characters - I didn't really get to know them. Still a really good read.

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New author to me, but what a well written and well paced novel. I was engaged in the story from the very beginning. There’s one central mystery, along with the story of the self help guru Tom. A real whodunit, many possibilities and kept me guessing all the way through. Would recommend!

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This book was an interestng take on a missing possibly dead sister told in multiple perspectives and timelines. The ending dragged a bit but did resolve the different storylines. It also looks at leaders of self help movements and how they are idolized and propped up by their followers

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another great book by CL Taylor.
I enjoyed the frinedship of the neighbours and the way it changed.
All through the book you are lead to believe one thing and then at the end you are blindsided by the truth.

I really enjoyed this and would not hesitate to recomment this to everyone,

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Fran books a wellness retreat with three friends. Her sister Jenna went missing there two years prior. No one knows what has happened to her, the police suspect she committed suicide but Fran's mom believes it's something more.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

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Wow I loved this serious pager turner!
It was one of those thrillers that after every chapter, you couldn’t bring yourself to put the book down.
Hearing from three POVs was great, but got a little confusing halfway through, which I feel was my fault for not being able to read for a few days due to work.
This was super mysterious, twisty, and I loved it. Will be keeping an eye on the author for sure.

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When Jenna disappears on a retreat and is presumed dead. Two other people died on that trip and now the organiser is back out of prison and ready to start again. Her sister is persuaded to go on the next trip to see if she can find out what happened. Was it suicide or murder and where’s the body ?

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Cl. taylor is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors! This is another really enjoyable book to read. i felt like i got to know the characters well, and i loved all the twists and surprises along the way!

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This book definitely is the 'things aren't always as they seem'. The unfolding of the story seemed straight forward until some of the others who witnessed the horror began to unravel and it become much more complicated and highlighted how people can manipulate situations to their own gains. All slightly unnerving!

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I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review. Another good read from C L Taylor well plotted will keep you guessing to the end

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I am a bit of a sucker for retreats as well as mystery stories, so I was attracted by the premise of this book.
The characters within were very real, flaws and all.

The main theme was dysfunctional families which is very topical at the moment.

There were lots of interesting storylines which kept me engaged in the book until the very end. Easy reading with great characters and relationship issues, All the loose ends were tied up in a neat bow at the end.

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I’m a huge C.L. Taylor fan and Her Last Holiday was a much anticipated read for this year. When I first started it, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy it as much as her previous books as it had a very different feel to it that I couldn’t put my finger on! But I very quickly became caught up in the mystery of what happened to Jenna while she was in Gozo on a wellness retreat run by Kate and Tom. When her sister Fran is bullied into investigating one of Tom’s retreats after he has been released from prison for crimes committed whilst on the Gozo retreat. And it’s when Fran meets Tom, Kate plus others who had been there when Jenna disappeared that things start to get very tense and no one seems to be telling the truth about what happened to Jenna…

I loved the different viewpoints throughout Her Last Holiday as we are introduced to 3 very different women. There’s Fran, older than her sister by 12 years so hadn’t really had much to do with her what she was growing up so they had had a strained and distant relationship. Her guilt at this is played upon by her manipulative mother and she’s suddenly put in a very dangerous position by searching for the truth about what occurred 2 years ago. The reader also sees first hand what happened on that first retreat in Gozo as Jenna narrates her first meeting with Tom and Kate. And finally there is Kate-Tom’s wife and the driving force behind Soul Shrink Retreats who has been waiting for her husband to be released from jail. So it’s a real female character led narrative with a twisty storyline where nothing is quite what it seems.

Her Last Holiday is a slow burner but no less gripping for it. Emotionally draining at times due to the relationship between the sisters (and how it leads to tragedy for all involved) I found it unexpectedly poignant but thoroughly gripping throughout.

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Cally Taylor never disappoints! This is such a cleverly woven mystery of intertwining strands, but it's always possible to follow the story and timelines. I loved it, can't wait for the next one!

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This was a brilliantly plotted, gripping book and typical Cally Taylor quality. I loved the premise of the book and the main character Fran and I read it in two sittings. I found the twists and turns really good and the description and imagery in the book were brilliantly done. I'm a real fan of Cally's work and I wasn't disappointed with this latest offering.
Believable well drawn characters, interesting themes, twists I didn't guess with a sprinkling of Cally Taylor's magic storytelling! What more could you want?
I would highly recommend this.
Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for my early copy.

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I loved the concept and was quickly pulled in by the suspicious characters, unsettling atmosphere and the mystery of what had happened to Jenna. Outspoken and determined Fran was a refreshing protagonist and perfectly suited to the challenge. While I did anticipate the big twist, I admired the way it was done and there were plenty of other things that kept me guessing. A compelling read!

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I think this is CL Taylor’s best book yet. It is a gripping read from start to finish. The story of Tom, leading a self help group, and Jenna, who went missing at the last retreat he ran on the island of Gozo. I really enjoyed it. The people on the retreat are a diverse group with interesting back stories.

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Frans sister goes missing on a retreat holiday, 2 years later she attends a new retreat thrown by the same hosts to try and get to the bottom of her sisters disappearance.
A huge fan of C.L Taylor, I eagerly awaited reading this and it didn't dissapoint.
The characters were not the easiest to connect with, and usually I'd struggle with this but I found this added more intrigue and mystery and made it more realistic.
It was a brilliant read, the complex characters helped to really build and conceal the outcome and the damaged and unstable emotions of each of them really made this a tense read.
The fast pace and switching between characters kept you guessing. Throwing you in one direction the turning you in another. The twist really shook things up just when I started to think I had slotted the story together, they were thrown apart again and I was kept guessing until the end.
A fabulous read, thankyou to netgalley and C.L Taylor for the copy!

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Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Great book showing that people are not always what they seem. Loved the ending!

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A great read highly recommended!
Jenna visits Gozo to attend a wellness retreat , and never returns home it is believed she has committed suicide, this doesn’t sit well with her sister Fran and she wants to find the truth about the visit to Gozo.

The retreats were organised by a husband and wife team Tom and Kate , the trip ended in such a dreadful way that Tom has to serve a prison sentence .

This book is expertly written it has a past and present narrative and also perspectives from the female protagonists. This could lead to confusion but due to the calibre of writing the book is an easy and I feel unique read.
There are plenty of twists in the fast paced story and overall an entertaining and intriguing book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this arc copy.

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Thank you to Netgalley for my arc of this book!
I read The Island at the end of 2020 and completely fell in love with it so as soon as this came out I knew I had to read it!
After reading a few disappointing reads before this one, I knew this had to live up to expectations and it did!
I completely fell into Fran's character and had to find out what happened to her sister, Jenna. I disliked her parents and felt they should be proud of their daughters, whatever life threw at them.
It was gripping and I loved getting to know the characters at the retreat with Fran and also on the 1st retreat with Jenna.
I loved how both stories crossed over with some of the characters so you could get a feel for both.
The only reason I didnt give it 5stars was because I felt the twist at the end wasn't on the same level as previous books, as some of the storylines you could see coming, however it kept me gripped and wanting to read more, definitely would recommend!!
Out 29th April 2021

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Picture a time in your life, if you would. You’re thisclose to a nervous breakdown, and your family is as helpful as a court summons — they’re the root cause of all your problems anyway. What are you to do? You’re going to need help, right? A little counselling will go a long way, but you just need to find the right people to guide you. So the internet becomes your friend, and very soon you’ve signed up to a few days in the sun with like-minded messed-up individuals, ready to throw caution to the wind and your worries into the sea. Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? Well, it would be, if you didn’t end up missing, presumed dead, with your life coach in prison for negligent homicide. This is what happened to Jenna Fitzgerald.

Jenna joins a group called ShrinkSoul, a self-help organisation run by Tom Wade and his wife Kate. They’re a kind of internet sensation who supposedly help people in crisis to attain better control over themselves and their lives. Tom oozes charisma and is the handsome face of ShrinkSoul. Kate runs the business and micro-manages her husband every step of the way. Jenna is attracted to what they have to offer, as well has being drawn to Tom in other ways. Her Last Holiday, the latest psychological thriller from bestselling author C.L. Taylor (The Fear, Sleep, Strangers), is a fast-moving, page-turning read that examines, amidst the confusion and drama, how domestic violence, whether physical, verbal, or both, turns lives upside down and make the most confident person in the room tremble at the very mention of ‘family’.

The story begins with Tom being released from a two-year stretch behind bars due to the accidental deaths of two people at a retreat on the Mediterranean island of Gozo, off the coast of Malta. Jenna went missing, and the coroner confirmed that she more than likely took her own life. No one was ever charged with her disappearance. Kate, meanwhile, has had to start from scratch, but she sees an opportunity to take advantage of Tom’s release and pretty soon they’re both back in the self-help business. Jenna’s sister Fran is sent by her mother Geraldine to investigate the new organisation, and tasked with finding out exactly what happened to Jenna. She’s been booked to participate in a retreat in Wales.

Her Last Holiday is told in three distinct points of view. Fran is the leading character and we learn a lot about her and her relationships with Jenna and her family as we go along. Jenna’s voice comes from just before her disappearance; we meet her as she and her fellow travellers-in-life land in Malta. Kate is the last PoV. Her story is complex, and we see her working through her post-trial anxiety, welcoming her husband back home, and then immediately kickstarting the organisation once more. Her story within Her Last Holiday is, for me, the one I found the most engrossing. Overall, though, the different perspectives and changes of tense worked throughout.

The twists (for there are always twists), when they come, are earned. Some you’ll see coming; others you won’t. But my favourite parts of the book were the one-to-one therapy sessions. Despite lying about herself to get there, Fran opens up to Tom about her life, and we learn about the dominant and oftentimes abusive figure of her and Jenna’s mother Geraldine. The supporting characters are decently fleshed out, and more than a few of them are relevant to the plot. I enjoyed reading about Phoenix, Joy, Renata, and Damian. If I take one thing from reading C.L. Taylor’s book, it’s that while we’re all a little messed up, we are so mainly because of family.

I received a free copy of Her Last Holiday from NetGalley and the publishers, in return for an honest review.

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Tom Wade is the face of SoulShrink – a self-help counselling programme that aims to help people work through their anxieties and worries on luxurious spiritual retreats. Or he was until two years ago, when on a SoulShrink retreat in Gozo, two guests were killed and one vanished, ultimately ruled a suicide. Tom was arrested and sent to prison, leaving a decimated company in his wake. Now, two years later, Tom has been released from prison, and his wife, Kate, is determined to help him rebuild his empire.

Fran Fitzgerald is the sister of the woman who disappeared on the SoulShrink retreat two years previously. She harbours feelings of guilt about how she treated Jenna in her final interactions with her, and Fran wonders whether things would have been different if she had just listened to Jenna more. Tom Wade’s release from prison and the subsequent announcement of a new SoulShrink retreat sends Fran’s mother, Geraldine, into overdrive: she has never forgiven Tom for the role he and his company played in her daughter’s death, and she wants to get to the bottom of it all. Geraldine convinces Fran to go on this retreat to discover what happened to Jenna, and to bring the person responsible to account. When Fran starts to investigate, though, she realizes that there was much more to Jenna’s death than she ever believed possible.

Her Last Holiday is my first book by C.L. Taylor, although somehow I have been following her on Twitter for ages. So, when I was given an ARC for this book, I was extremely excited. I had seen the marketing for this book, and when I read the back-cover blurb, I was fairly excited to see how this book played out. Suffice to say, I was not disappointed.

Taylor has crafted a compelling mystery told from the points of view of three equally intriguing women: two from the present day, and one from two years previously. The characters were each developed enough to have their own voices and outlooks, and I thought they had been well fleshed-out for the purposes of the story. The multiple points of view were used effectively to build tension in the mystery, and I thought that the dual timeline aspect of the book worked well.

What I will say, though, is that I thought the book was a little bit unbelievable. I acknowledge that a book is generally meant to be escapism, but I found some of the twists that this book took to be slightly eyebrow-raising, and I didn’t buy into all of them. Weirdly, I saw the final twist coming a while away as the “wouldn’t it be ridiculous if …” twist I imagined for the book. Turns out, it was right! This being said, though, I think the plot moved along at a good pace, and as much as the plot points might have needed you to suspend belief in reality for a moment or two, I think the storytelling was compelling enough for me to overlook these and just get swept away with the story.

The writing style was easy to read and follow, and the storytelling was tight and compact. There were maybe parts of the book where it could have been cut slightly shorter, but all in all, I thought that the book stood well on its own and I could clearly see why C.L. Taylor is popular as an author. The characters were multi-faceted, the mystery was compelling, and I thought the structure of the book was great. I raced through the book, both desperate to find out how it ended as well as not really wanting it to end.

I will absolutely be looking out for more C.L. Taylor books in the future, and am glad there is a fairly good backlist for me to work my way through. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be picking up more of what Taylor writes in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC in exchange for a review.

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Enough to put you off self-help retreats for LIFE. Brilliant, confusing at times - so many double up names - this is a really smart and exciting thriller which illustrates the importance of sister-love. No retreats for me thank you, keep your sweat boxes and trust falls, I’ll stay emotional and safe!

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This is the first C L Taylor book I’ve read and I’ve heard a lot about her work.

Fran’s sister, Jenna, went on a retreat two years ago and disappeared. The person running the retreat was imprisoned for negligence due to the death of two guests on the same retreat. Wanting to find out more about what happened to her sister, Fran signs up to a retreat run by the same man, who has been released from prison.

Her writing is super easy to read (and as somebody writing her own book, it is not easy to make a book easy to read). I got through this in two days. It would make a great holiday read for sure.

The book is told from the perspective of Fran (current), Jenna (past) and Kate (current). The book flips between all three perspectives pretty seamlessly and there’s no confusion.

I didn’t see the ending coming and it was a good twist. I’m not sure how realistic the ending was and so that stops it being a 5 star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Her Last Holiday is out on 29 April 2021.

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A slow burning, and well-constructed psychological thriller, “Her Last Holiday” was my first CL Taylor novel, and I admit it won’t be my last. At times frustrating, gripping and horrifying, it certainly turned out to be a page-turner.

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna went missing while on a wellness retreat, the third victim of unexplained disappearances. Soon after, the retreat closed and the owner was sent to prison. Now, following his release, and still without closure, her parents desperately want to find out what happened, so Fran agrees to visit his new retreat in Wales to find out what actually happened.

What follows is a tense, somewhat drawn out tale, told largely from the viewpoint of Jenna, in the past and Fran, in the present. We meet a collection of strange and flawed characters, most of whom are using the retreat to help recover from various traumas they have experienced. I thoroughly enjoyed how these characters were drawn and used to explore a number of issues arising from self-help groups. The fact they in turn made me angry, sad, frustrated and despairing shows how well Taylor developed them.

The couple running the retreat are nasty, we suspect purely in it for the money, and clearly exploit the visitors. We share some of the counselling sessions they run, which are fascinating. The wife, Kate, is a classic baddie and we also get some of the story from her perspective, which adds a third element to the narrative.

There are flavours of an Agatha Christie whodunit here, with red herrings, dysfunctional families, and a mix of characters any one of which could be the baddie. There’s enough twists and turn to satisfy the most jaded fan. I have to admit to becoming slightly tired of the multiple timeline format that many authors now adopt, but in this case, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.

I’m sure CL Taylor fans will lap this book up, and new readers who pick it up will not be disappointed either.

A few continuity errors crept into my NetGalley ARC, and hopefully these will be corrected by the time the book is published.

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Another clever book from C.L. Taylor that brings shocks and surprises.
When Jenna went to Gozo on a self-help retreat it turned out to be her last holiday. Her sister Fran starts to investigate exactly what happened to her sister during that time in an attempt to discover the truth. With lots of twists and turns this is a gripping story that does not disappoint.

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I always enjoy books written by this author so I was really pleased to be able to get an opportunity to read this.

I found it to be quite easy to follow, set in two timelines then and now which are told by three different women. There are lots of characters in the story but as you get through the first few chapters you soon get to know who is who and what part they all have to play. I liked the storyline and it flowed along nicely for me at a nice pace. There were a few twists and turns along the way, but they were not big enough to surprise me unfortunately. The ending was also a bit of a let down for me, I felt it was rushed a bit but overall the book was a good read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Well CL Taylor has done it again, another addictive and twisty thriller than kept me guessing right until the very end. Her books are always so clever with a cast of characters who are not always very likeable. The ending of this book is exciting and surprising. Loved it.

Jenna disappeared from a wellness retreat in Gozo 2 years ago. Nobody really knows what happened and her family are grieving. So when Tom Wade is released from prison and runs another retreat for Soul Shrink, Jenna’s Sister Fran decides that she is going to get answers. She goes along to this retreat and asks uncomfortable questions of those who were in Gozo. Will the same fate befall her r will she find out the truth?

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my advanced copy of this book to read.

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Well written from the start and kept me gripped to the end. As like her previous books CL Taylor doesn't disappoint.

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I found this so hard to put down! As I got closer & closer to the end, the shocks kept coming and I didn't guess them at all. I enjoyed the three different POVs, with them being spread over present day & two years prior. I thought the characters were fascinating, even the unlikable ones, and enjoyed seeing them grow, especially Fran.

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I have always wanted to read C.L. Taylor's books and was so excited when I got the ARC of this book. However, despite the lively expectations I had about the author, the book sadly did not live up to my expectations.

Two years ago, Jenna went missing while being on a wellness retreat in Gozo. Jenna was not the only victim--two more victims were found dead on that retreat and Tom, who was in charge of the retreat was sent to prison. Two years later, Tom was released from the prison and Kate his wife restarts SoulShrink. Meanwhile, Jenna's family wants answers and Jenna's mother Geraldine enrolls Fran, an IT fifty something old teacher to the retreat.

Initially, I do like the plot of the story. Writing was good, and in some parts, I was actually hooked to the story. It was a fast paced thriller. The story was told from the event happened two years ago in Jenna's perspective and present in Fran and Kate's perspectives. I like the development of romance between Jenna and Tom. The ending was dramatic and unexpected though the epilogue to me was a bit confusing to me at first. There were literally some parts, I was bored with. Nonetheless it was really a good thriller! Worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. This review is based on my honest opinion.

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Tom Wade and his wife Kate used to run wellness retreats under the name SoulShrink, for people unhappy with some aspect of their lives. Although with no training in psychology, Tom is the charismatic and gentle listener that people would come to hear while Kate managed the running of the retreats. However, after a retreat on the Maltese island of Gozo ended disastrously with the deaths of two participants and the presumed suicide of a third, Tom was sentenced to two years jail. After his release his cash strapped wife goads him into holding another retreat again, this time in Wales.

Fran Fitzgerald's sister Jenna disappeared during the retreat on Gozo and was thought to have committed suicide there. Now Fran's mother has pushed Fran into going to the retreat in Wales to find out what really happened in Gozo. Registering under a false name, she discovers three of the other participants were also at the Gozo retreat, but understandably no one wants to talk about it.

Told in two lines, that of the Gozo retreat and of the current retreat from the point of view of the three women involved, Jenna, Kate and Fran, I kept getting confused about who was narrating and which retreat we were at and who all the other characters were, since some of them changed their names during the Gozo retreat. Fran's time at the retreat in Wales really dragged and felt repetitious with the story becoming a really slow burn to get to the point where we find out what happened to Jenna.

Generally I don't mind suspending belief in the cause of a good story, but there was just too much in this novel that beggared belief. Firstly, that Tom would have been allowed to restart his business after two people died and a third disappeared at his last retreat. How could he even have insurance for the retreat (which Kate mentions they have) after what happened before? Secondly, why would anyone sign up for his retreats after what happened, including people who attended the Gozo retreat? Thirdly, why would Jenna and Kate's mother force Fran to go on the retreat after what happened to Jenna (and why would Fran go along with it)? And finally there is the ending which was just too contrived for me.

Although I usually enjoy C.L. Taylor's novels, this is not one of her best or one I'm likely to find memorable.

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I have read a few books from this author and always find the stories to be gripping. The tension rises and holds the reader in a position where the only option is to turn the pages and keep reading until you reach the conclusion. The same is true of this book.
I went through a whole range of amateur sleuth theories about what had happened to Jenna. Each time, I was convinced that I’d nailed it, and each time I was wrong. From the creepy Damian to the controlling Kate, each character was written in perfect detail to create a perception that was both accurate and misleading in equal measure.
I really liked Fran and genuinely felt her sadness, the loss that she felt from losing Jenna and the hopelessness of not believing her to be suicidal but lacking proof to the contrary, felt devastating. Her distrust of those from the Gozo retreat was understandable; how could nobody account for what happened to her sister?
As the book drew to its conclusion, it was easy to discern an acceleration in the story and the perspective tilted as surprises came from all corners. A thriller in the truest form of the word as I was genuinely pulled in to discover what had happened in Malta.
Once I reached the conclusion, I was happy that all the loose ends were neatly tied up and I became aware that my pulse was racing. I truly recommend this story as an addictive page turner from an author who excels at her craft.

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Jenna disappeared on a retreat in Gozo ran by soulshrink. Fran, her sister, is talked into visiting a retreat ran by the same people, by her mother to find out what exactly happened to Jenna.

An interesting concept, lots of characters that all seem suspicious.

I didn’t guess what was going on or what happened to Jenna.

Not my most favourite book from CL Taylor. But an enjoyable read nonetheless.

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Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor

****This ARC was provided by NetGalley for a free and honest review.**** Fran’s sister, Jenna, went missing after she went on a spiritual retreat in Gozo lead by Tom Wade. Two other people died in the same retreat and Tom has just been released from prison. He is offering healing retreats again so Fran books herself a spot in order to find out more about Tom and ask questions about her missing sister. I really liked this book. The suspense and suspicious characters had me guessing what truly happened until the very end! Definitely put this on your to read list if you love a good suspense novel. Mark your calendar because it publishes on April 29, 2021.

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Another great book from C.L. Taylor. The book starts in the present and then moves between the past and present to build the story. Loved the way the story built slowly and kept you guessing. There were some creepy/sinister characters and some working out to do to figure who people were as their name in the past is not always the same as that in the present.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Another really enjoyable read from C L Taylor! I thought this was quite different in style to Sleep and Strangers, but brilliant in a completely new way. The storytelling was excellent and there are some really clever twists and turns along the way. Characters are really well written, I definitely believed they were real people by the end - especially Jenna and Tom. Very immersive, mysterious and a little bit creepy! Loved it.

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This is a cleverly constructed story that drew me in from the beginning. It is told from the perspective of three different women who are central to the plot. A good suspense novel that is full of twisting intertwined storylines. No-one on the retreat is who they appear to be.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the advance copy.

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"Her Last Holiday" by CL Taylor ticks all the mystery/thriller boxes that make it an enjoyable read.. The characters are likeable, you want Fran to find out what happened to Jenna, and want to see why Tom ended up in prison in the first place. The nice touch is the "rebirthing" which means you aren't sure who is who until the character names are put together. Clever but makes me sad that I never did get to Gozo, because of the pandemic.

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Does this book has the most believable plot? No. Are the character’s motivations strong enough to justify their actions throughout the book? Not really. Was this an engaging and fun story that kept me turning the pages compulsively until the final twist? Hell, yes!

Although this is not a traditional mystery/thriller in the sense of the main character investigating and discovering clues, I was totally engrossed since page one, never being sure of where the story was going or what twist would come next. Though not action packed, the characters more than make up for it, especially Fran and her character arc. The only minor issue I have is that, after the climax when the villain is revealed, the last chapters drag a bit and are a bit too saccharine.

This is only my second C.L. Taylor and I can’t wait to dive into her backlist.

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The concept of this book really appealed to me and it did not disappoint. The book is told in the interesting way of each chapter taking us between Fran at the Welsh retreat in the present day, and Jenna at the Gozo retreat some years earlier as we find out what happened to her. It can feel like they are taking place at the same time as they run parallel with each other and I liked that. I did get a little lost at times as a character would start reflecting on a previous event, but this wouldn’t always be clear to start off with and I would wonder what was going on. But overall a gripping read as we get to the bottom of what really happened to Jenna with lots of twists along the way.

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Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong. The man behind the retreats has been released from prison after serving a sentence for the deaths of two people. Jenna was the third victim, but no-one knows what really happened to her - or do they?

Fran wants to solve the mystery and books herself on to one of Tom’s retreats in a bid to uncover the truth about what happened to her sister.
So begins another rollercoaster ride of a thriller from an author expert in this field. The story is told by Fran in the present and Jenna in the past and we learn about their relationship growing up as well as how events gradually unfolded. The other characters on the retreat are very cleverly brought into the story and the reader is left wondering if anyone is who they appear to be. Lots of suspense and twists and turns to a slightly implausible ending – which lost it a star for me.
I would still thoroughly recommend the book – as I would any by this author!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

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I feel like C.L Taylor and I share very similar interests in true crime topics! Taylor has written so many books that I have really enjoyed and something I really admire is that they are all on different themes - she isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone and push to find a new way of telling an interesting story. Her Last Holiday really reminded me of a podcast I listened to recently called ‘Guru’ by Wondery which tells the true story of Arthur James Ray - a self help guru who went to prison after killing people in a sweat lodge as part of a retreat he was running. There is a lot of similarities here, with fictional Fran trying to find out what happened to her sister who disappeared at a similar retreat where others had died.

The story is split into pieces – we have a past and present timeline between the two sisters that alternates and then there is also a perspective from Kate who is dating the Guru himself. There’s a lot of twists and turns (I’d expect nothing less!) and quite a few surprises that I did not expect throughout. The flashbacks could have gotten confusing but this is not the case here with assured writing which keeps the pace up throughout. We got a lot of background into the drama happening at the past retreat but I would have perhaps liked to see a little more build up to the sweat lodge and the experience itself as it’s not really spelt out what in particular causes the characters to die.

Our main character Fran is interesting – she is a no-nonsense teacher in her 50s who is posing as her retired mother in order to access the retreat. Although some interactions with her were quite refreshing as she struggles to navigate social conventions, I felt like this could have been pushed further in places. I kept picturing her as around 30 years old instead of 50! It perhaps doesn’t help that her sister is so much younger than her though.

At least two characters are pretending to be other people in the book and this does sometimes make things confusing. There are times when a character is yelling the other person’s real name outside their door which I thought was a little unrealistic as anyone could have heard them. In the ARC that I was given there are also some major mistakes where a character refers to someone as the wrong name to a character that would have had a large reaction if they had known the truth. This made the prose jarring as I was first shocked they had given the game away or slipped up but then there is no reaction from the other person so it seems to have just been a mistake in the editing – I have flagged this to the publisher and hopefully it will be fixed by the time of publication.

Overall Her Last Holiday is a gripping read and another great read from C.L Taylor – I look forward to the next one! Thank you to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks net galley and C.L.Taylor for this interesting book.
I found it dragged on in the first quarter, and then it got far more interesting.
Jemma had a lot of stress in her life, her relationship with her parents and sister was not great, and her boyfriend had broken off with her.
Jemma thought she would go away to a retreat to help her stress and find herself.
The last thing she thought would happen that her life would be in danger,
Going to the retreat changed her life forever.

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📚Book Review 📚
Her Last Holiday by @cltaylorauthor
Publication Date-29th April 2021

Thank you to @netgalleyand @avon_books for this advanced readers copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Book Synopsis
You come to Soul Shrink to be healed. You don’t expect to die.

Two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of 2 people. But he has never let on what happened to the third suspected victim: Jenna.

Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book, especially that it was through three characters points of views. I feel that this really helped me to really know what was going on.

I also enjoyed that it covered two different timelines, so I could truly understand the events of the first retreat.

There were so many twists, I want discuss so as not to spoil the book, but I loved how it all came to get her, especially the last few chapters.

Another fantastic book by the author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
#herlastholiday #cltaylor #avonbooks #netgalley #arc #advancedreaderscopy #arcreview #arcreviewer #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #readingcommunity #bookreviews #readingisfundamental

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“You come to Soul Shrink to be healed. You don’t expect to die”

This is my second CLTaylor read and I’m officially a fan!

When I first started reading I needed a quick minute to figure out who was who, if I was in the past or present, but once I got into it you flowed really well. I really liked how the chapters were from the point of view of the different character - Jenna, Fran & Kate.

This read has so many twists. Like, a whiplash amount, ones I definitely didn’t see coming too! Which is the best bit when reading a thriller, especially if you are a bookworm like me and read a fair few.

If I hadn’t been so busy with work, I’d have swallowed this book up in a day or two, I read that last 40% in one sitting, mainly because I NEEDED TO KNOW!

Out on 29th April 2021!
And the bookshops should be open by then so you have no excuse! 😂👍🏻

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Excellent twisty and turny story line. Well written. An unputdownable story! Have always loved C.L. Taylor's books and this one does not disappoint

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Big thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review Her Last Holiday by C L Taylor.

I was drawn to this book straight away by the synopsis and it didn't disappoint me.

I was hooked on this after the first few pages. None of the characters were very likeable but for me that made the story more interesting.

This has everything I look for in a thriller including loads of twists and turns, I couldn't keep up!!

The ending was totally different to what I was expecting as well so that was a definite wow moment!!

I haven't read any of C L Taylor's previous books but after enjoying this so much I will be looking them up!

Her Last Holiday is released on 29th April 2021 and I would 100% recommend it.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me!

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I rather enjoyed this one. It wasn’t overly complicated and it was pretty easy to read too. I also read it quite quickly so I’d say it’s definitely a page turner!

I really really liked the character of Fran while reading this and I’m unsure how intentional it was but I found her very funny. The way she spoke to people and absolutely did not give a flying f**k was actually really refreshing to read. I’d read more books with her in just for her unintentional humour.

There was a few points where names got a little muddled up, probably due to it being an advanced copy with potential edits to be made. It did confuse me, but it doesn’t take much either. 😂

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CL Taylor does it again.
A great read that will keep you guessing right to the end.

Frans sister has gone missing on a retreat in Gozo, all they found were her flip flops at the cliffs edge, a clear cut suicide as far as the police are concerned.
Frans overbearing mum books her in on the next retreat under a false name with the remit to find out what really happened to her sister.
Twists and turns aplenty with lots of intrigue and deception.

One of my favourite go to authors when I want guaranteed entertainment.

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Three women. Three voices. Three stories.
Kate - her husband has just been released from prison and she’s had to keep the ‘retreat’ business they owned going while he’s been away. But what’s her secret?
Fran - desperately trying to find out about the death of her sister...last seen at the retreat....
Jenna - Fran’s sister. Last seen at the retreat 3 years ago - but how did she die?
Fans of C.L Taylor won’t be disappointed

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This was not one of the best books I have read by C L Taylor. I really found it hard going and did not really bond with any of the characters. I did persevere non the less and as the book progressed it did get a bit better.

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C.L Taylor is one of my favourite authors, and I was so happy to be chosen to read her latest thriller. I've been to Gozo and I was so excited to read a book with parts set there. I fell in love with the character of Fran. Really great read, I was hooked and the ending - just WOW!

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The book begins when Fran books onto the infamous Soul Shrink's upcoming wellness retreat, his first retreat since he was imprisoned for murder. Fran is determined to discover the true fate of her sister Jenna who disappeared when in Gozo and on one of the Soul Shrinks retreats.

I am a huge fan of C.L.Taylor's books and love her writing style, Her Last Holiday is definitely one of my favourites. I was invested in the plot pretty much straight away and devoured it in only a few sittings. I loved how Taylor included so many tense and suspenseful moments that left me on the edge of my seat. There were also some great unpredictable twists where I found myself constantly changing my mind and guessing Jenna's fate.

Taylor writes from multiple characters points of view and also from past to present, including characters Jenna, Fran and Kate, Soul Shrinks wife. I felt that the multiple points of view definitely added to the mystery behind the events in Gozo.

I definitely recommend this book if you are wanting to read a really good and unpredictable thriller that keeps you guessing throughout.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unedited review.

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Wow oh wow!! Another absolute masterpiece from a truly wonderful author. I have been completely pulled in and both unable and unwilling to put this one down. 
The tension and suspense throughout this one have kept me completely hooked. I have been completely unable to predict where this was going and I definitely haven't been disappointed. 
I love the characters in this one. Some you like instantly and others make you suspicious from the first impression. I have read all of the books by CL Taylor and I can safely say that this is my favourite. 
I have devoured page after page of this book. I have craved more information and tried unsuccessfully to predict where this was going. 
I adore the cover of this one, not only does it arouse curiosity but it is also one that catches the eye of the reader. From the cover alone, I have been desperate to see where this was going. 
A definite five star read which I highly recommend.

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Two years ago Fran's sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo. That retreat went horrifically wrong and Tom Wade, the man behind the retreat, went to prison. But Tom's just been released after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people. Tom's never admitted what happened to Jenna, but Fran suspects Jenna is a third victim. When Tom schedules another retreat, Fran attends - determined to learn what happened to her sister.

Her Last Holiday is fast paced and suspenseful. I particularly enjoyed the interesting isolated locations in both timelines.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.

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The general storyling of this book is that Fran visits a wellness retreat run by Tom & Kate, two years after her sister goes missing (presumed dead) after visiting one of theirs in Gozo. Each chapter alternates between character viewpoints which keeps it internesting. I couldn't put this down and enjoyed the twists and turns provided by this book.
A great read!
Thank you to CL Taylor, NetGalley & Avon Books for the advanced copy.

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Two years after Fran's sister Jenna has disappeared from a Soul Shrink wellness retreat in Gozo, she attends a retreat to find some answers from Tom the newly released man behind the retreats for herself.

This book kept me guessing throughout, it was brilliantly written and full of suspense. My heart was in my mouth and my jaw was on the floor at the ending, I loved it! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

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It might help to consider this review in two parts: in the first place, the writing is fast paced and tension builds relentlessly so that the reader is often left hanging on the edge of their seat as another twist in the plot is revealed; at the same time, there is a certain sameness to C L Taylor’s writing that rather detracts from the overall reading experience. This may well be a ‘Marmite’ feature where perhaps a majority of readers find the writing features of this author a very attractive feature. This reader, however, thinks that C L Taylor is a better writer than is sometimes displayed in her books and would look forward to the same pace, complexity and plot development in a novel that broke new ground in terms of subject matter.

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Fran’s younger sister Jenna went missing after attending a wellness retreat run by a self-help guru named Tom Wade and his wife Kate, and it was presumed that she committed suicide. At that same retreat, some of the attendees died while participating in a sweat lodge exercise. Tom served time for those deaths but is now out of prison and running his first retreat since that tragic day, and Fran is determined to attend the retreat and get to the bottom of what happened to her sister three years ago.

This book alternates between past (Jenna’s experience at the retreat three years ago) and present (from the point of view of Fran infiltrating the current retreat and Tom’s wife, Kate, trying to run it and rehabilitate their brand). It’s a bit of a slow burn until later in the story, when the pacing picks up and the layers of dysfunction and dark secrets are revealed. But throughout, the writing flows well.

I couldn’t help but wonder if the book would have held more tension for me if the present time was limited to Fran’s point of view. I say that because I enjoyed Fran as a character, and ultimately, it’s her ride we're on. But also because what sounded fun about this book was the idea of someone infiltrating a wellness retreat to get answers. Once you throw in the POV of the individual planning and running the retreat, the mystery and secrecy is deflated a bit.

Still, the book is a fast and easy read that’s full of red herrings and twists - perfect for the beach or a day by the pool.

Thank you Avon Books for the ARC!

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Fran's sister Jenna disappeared whilst visiting a retreat a few years previously, and now Fran is on the same retreat to attempt to discover exactly what happened to her sister and to answer the questions her family had never been able to resolve.

I was so excited to read this, I have always enjoyed C.L. Taylor's work, and I was not disappointed. Gripping, exciting and intoxicating, this is everything that I have come to expect from Cally. A page turner that was hard to put down. Just when I thought I had worked out what was coming next, I was proven to be incorrect. Full of fascinating characters that weaved the story together perfectly. A classic five star read which I highly recommend!

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Another fantasticly gripping thriller from C L Taylor. Full of suspense and mystery. I could not put it down. A definite must read.

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Fran is joining Tom Wade's retreat (self-help kind of retreat) following her mother's request who still has not had closure about her daughter's death in Gozo which was ruled as suicide. Jenna was one of Tom's retreat participant when she went missing. Tom's retreat has also caused death of two other participants which made Tom imprisoned for two years. Fran joins Tom's retreat and meets Tom's wife, who's also the retreat main organiser. There are also three other participants who are actually the participants from previous retreat,...yes, they knew Jenna. It's Fran's mission to find what happened to Jenna.
It's a bit unbelievable in regard of how a mother asked her daughter to go into same retreat which the other daughter presumed dead or went missing, then the last activity in the retreat is pretty jaw-dropping 🤪. I don't enjoy it as much as her other books, but I can say i love the ending and all the twists after 80% of the book.

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First of all, thank you #netgalley and #avonbookuk for sending me this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first C.L. Taylor book and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but Taylor has a great way of fleshing out her characters until you almost feel you know them.

Our MC Fran is a 50 something IT teacher who is completely disenchanted with life and whose been alone for so long she's kind of allergic to hugging and talking to people. Three years ago her sister, Jenna, went missing and declared dead after she took part in a mental health retreat in Gozo led by Tom Wade. Now Guru Tom Wade has just been released from prison after a two-year sentence and is organising a new retreat in Wales. Fran's mother is certain that Tom is the key to discovering what happened to Jenna, so Fran reluctantly accepts to take part under a false name.

What drives this thriller is the characters. Fran is a breath of fresh air. She's so direct and unapologetic it made me chuckle. She grew up in a dysfunctional family, where any demonstrations of feelings were swept under the carpet and the author captures her awkwardness to perfection. Then there's Kate, Tom's controlling wife who is obsessed with getting their business back on the road to success.
The reader soon discovers that each member at the retreat in Wales is hiding a secret. And when an accident happens and Fran almost gets killed she knows she's getting closer to the truth.
This kept me guessing right till the very end. I will definitively read more from this author.

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This is such a unique concept for a book, I am in awe of the ways CL Taylor choose to thrill us with her writing in such different and original ways and this one just hit it out of the park. A love the fact that we have a sot of cult leader under the guise of a self-help style retreat and mysteries surrounding some explained and unexplained deaths.

The structure of this book really had me hooked in, this author always has us uttering that phrase, just one more chapter and this book was no exception because we have two sisters and we get to hear from both of them then and now. We follow Fran's story now as well as then and we get to hear Jenna's side of the story then. But wait, there's another voice we get to hear as well and that third thread holds so many keys to unlocking some of the mysteries we uncover in both Fran and Jenna's stories. It's all just so brilliantly thrilling.

It is so hard to talk about anything to do with this book without giving away spoilers but my reviews are always spoiler free and so I have to start by saying that although Fran may seem on paper to be a stand-offish individual who would we hard to relate to, I really did find myself empathizing with her in so many ways. We meet her right at the beginning and I just love how prickly she is and I wanted to find out why. That was part of the journey for me and I love that thread of discovering what makes Fran who she is as the story progresses.

I also enjoyed getting to know Jenna and seeing how this whole thing began, Through Jenna we get to know Tom and how his whole spiritual healing gig began and that is where we get really deep into this situation. I was worried for Jenna the entire book and found myself holding my breath whenever she appeared. Everything about these characters and this book is just so intriguing and yet you could totally see all of this actually happening in real life.

This book has a really insightful author's note as well as a warning not to read the acknowledgments before reading the book both of which were just added bonuses for me as I love an authors note and also love to read the acknowledgments before I start the book. This is such a unique book and very different from this author's previous novels but still just as thrilling and just as hard to put down. Highly recommend!

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Two years ago, Jenna went to a retreat in Malta organized by Tom Wade, the man behind SoulShrink. But she didn’t come home. She disappeared and the local authorities judged that she had committed suicide jumping from a cliff.

Two other accidents took place on that retreat leaving Tom in prison for manslaughter. However, he will be released soon.

Jenna’s mother is set on blaming Tom for her daughter’s death. She sends her daughter, Fran, to a retreat that Tom organized (or rather his wife, Kate).

The book is told from 3 perspectives, Jenna in the past, Fran in the present, and Kate’s.

The 400 pages in this book go so quickly due to the fact you will be unable to put the book down. Fascinating characters, good twists and a suspenseful finale. This story kept me captive from the first page until the end. I love how the suspense slowly builds and I would never have guessed the ending.

A brilliant book that I would highly recommend

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review

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Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on her last holiday – a wellness retreat in Gozo. The retreat was run by Soul Shrink Tom and his wife Kate. Two people died on that retreat and Tom was sent to prison but Jenna’s death was ruled a suicide and her family just don’t believe this is the truth of what happened. Now Fran’s mum has persuaded her to go on Tom’s re-launched retreat so that she can try and find out what happened to Jenna. This novel is really gripping – I read it all in one sitting as I just had to know what had happened to Jenna but also what was going to happen in the present at the new retreat. The novel is told from Fran’s perspective and also Kate and Tom’s, which made for a really interesting narrative. I was fascinated by how the retreats came to be and the power behind them but also by Fran’s determination to find out what happened to Jenna. This novel has twists and turns and just when you think you’ve got a grip of what’s happening, the rug is pulled out from under you again. I loved this novel, it kept me on my toes all the way to the end and I love that it did! I recommend it!

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Yet again the author delivers another blindingly good read.
Fran’s sister died on a retreat in Gozo, suicide it was ruled, but Fran and her family want to know more about what happened to her. When the man who ran the retreat Tom is released from prison and bending to pressure from her mother, Fran signs up to another of his retreats to get to the truth of what happened. But who can she trust, and what will she find out about not only what happened to her sister but about herself too?
This is such a great read, Lots of twists, false villains and a brilliant ending

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Clever mystery/whodunnit, told from the perspective of three main female characters. The story moves between the past and the present and there are plenty of twists and red herrings thrown in for good measure. A good read and a clever ending!

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An enjoyable thriller come mystery read. Full of lies, twists, drama and family secrets..
Jenna disappears from her last holiday at a wellness retreat in Gozo run by Soulshrink guru Tom and his partner Kate. Deaths occurred in Gozo during the retreat and Tom has just been released from prison after serving 2 years for negligence.
The story follows Fran, Jennas sister, as she tries to uncover the truth. Their mother Geraldine does not believe Jenna committed suicide and books Fran on a wellness retreat by Soulshrink in Wales, the 1st since Tom's release, to find out the truth about Jenna.
It is told from multiple perspectives on a dual time line, past and present. It was easy to follow most of the time and comes together well in the end. It was well written although at times I did feel my interest waning after a promising start, especially in the middle, but I kept going and it grabbed my full attention again towards the end. The characters were difficult to warm to however the plot twists were enjoyable with surprises you didn't see coming and this kept me intrigued.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Her Last Holiday is another great read by the hugely talented C.L. Taylor and also another winner as this is a very well written book.
Fran is the main character in the book and from the start I liked her which helped hugely. Two years ago her sister, Jenna, went to Gozo to attend a wellness retreat ran by the great Tom Wade who is the man behind Soul Shrink Retreats. The only problem being is Jenna never returned and although Tom was imprisoned for the deaths of two others on the retreat the police gave the verdict of suicide for Jenna as no body was ever found. Fran is bullied into attending a weekend ran by Tom Wade and his partner by her mother with strict instructions to find out what really happened to Jenna.
The book ran on two timelines which worked well as Fran was now and Jenna then so it gave a good insight into other characters. There were a lot of characters to remember as some at the weekend with Fran had been at the Gozo retreat with her sister and I did get a little muddled here but that was probably my fault trying to race through this fab book!!
I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

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Love love love C.L. Taylor's books! And what a treat this one was! Full of intrigue, complicated characters and human angst.

Fran's sister, Jenna, disappeared, believed dead, on a former retreat run by Tom and Kate in which two of her companions died accidentally during a therapy session. Tom has just recently been released from prison after serving a short sentence for their manslaughter and is trying to rebuild his life and business.

Guilt-ridden and haunted by her last communication with Jenna before she disappeared, Fran, under pressure from her mother, embarks on her own holiday retreat with Tom and Kate in an attempt to find out what happened to her sister.

Now, before reading this book, readers should acknowledge that this is fiction written to entertain, and therefore reality may be stretched. For example, many readers have questioned whether in reality, a mother and daughter would want to be involved with, or go on a retreat with persons of such dubious character, let alone a retreat where at a previous gathering, two people had died and one had gone missing!

That said, how often have we heard the stunned expression of true life events, 'you couldn't make it up!'

My advice; this is a great read, so curl up, prepare to be entertained, and enjoy! You're in for a treat!

I give this book 4 stars.

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Excellent book with a great story, characters and drama.
I enjoyed how the author write a story that you can´t guess right away who the bad guy is. The writer develop the story and the character so great that you start to emphatize with the main character and get so deep in the book that you forget that you are reading.
It was so refreshing all the story and how ends that I really recommend it.

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Thank you Netgalley and Publisher Avon. Books for the advanced copy of this book. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
Fran’s sister, Jenna disappeared from a wellness retreat that two other participants died. Fran’s mother is adamant that Fran find out what happened to Jenna and signs her up to attend a Soul’s Shrink retreat.
This is a dark thriller that has more than one individual with deep psychological problems. Fran doesn’t know who to trust, especially after she experiences some nerve racking accidents that makes her fear for her own safety. An edge of your seat ending that will leave you yearning to read the next book by this author.

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A quick and riveting thriller surrounding the disappearance of Jenna under mysterious circumstances while away on a wellness retreat.

Two years later, her dysfunctional family still looks for answers as to why she was never able to return home.
Enter Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats who has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people at the same retreat where Jenna vanished. But he has never let on what happened to Jenna.

Haunted by her sisters' memory and determined to find the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance.

Told from multiple points of view with dual timelines the story is fast-paced and every chapter completely grabs the reader's attention. I found myself flipping pages as fast as I could to uncover the fate of Fran and her sister.

With full of games, lies, dangerous scenarios, hidden agendas and a twist that I couldn't see coming, the story is wrapped up beautifully and overall I really enjoyed reading it.

C.L. Taylor is one of my favourite authors and this latest book of hers didn't disappoint.
4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This gave me all the Liane Moriarty vibes and I loved it. It was such a unique storyline and I appreciated the depth of the drama and shocking turns.

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Another great psychological thriller from C L Taylor, definitely won’t disappoint.

Two years ago Fran’s sister, Jenna, went on a SoulShrink retreat in Gozo but never came home. It was decided she committed suicide but Fran and her family have never believed this. As well as her sisters death, two other people died on the same retreat and Tom, the man behind SoulShrink has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for those two deaths.

Tom and his wife have restarted the retreats and in order to try and get to the truth Fran goes to the retreat but will she find the answers she wants ? Will she survive the retreat, unlike her sister ?

This is a twisty psychological thriller that is told in the present and the past. Gradually we discover what really happened on the island of Gozo at the retreat along with Fran. Full of twists that will keep you guessing this is a great thriller that will keep you on your toes !!

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

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“I can save your life.”

To anyone suffering, those 5 words can be like a lifesaver. Tom Wade and his wife Kate run Soul Shrink, a company whose business it is to heal people from trauma, free them from anxiety and allow them to face the future with optimism instead of fear. It was at a wellness retreat run by Tom and Kate on the island of Gozo, Malta where Fran’s sister, Jenna, was last seen and presumed to have committed suicide three years ago. She came to Soul Shrink to be healed. Her family didn’t expect her to die! Tom has since served time in prison for the additional tragedy which occurred at his Malta retreat. Kate, the real founder of Soul Shrink and an insanely jealous and paranoid woman, has used the time to rebuild Tom’s business and has organized another retreat in Wales.

Fran, a bedraggled, bullied, 51-year-old IT teacher agreed to assume a false identity and enrol in the upcoming retreat in Wales. Suffering from a fractious mother-daughter relationship, Fran is bullied by her mom to attend to find out what happened to her sister 3 years ago.

At the heart, this insightful novel is a mystery but it’s also about families and secrets. Taylor explores how things unsaid can have life-altering consequences. She challenges readers to think for themselves and refuses to tie up lose ends in a neat little bow.

Convincingly told through Fran, her missing sister Jenna and Tom’s wife, Kate, this story also examines relationships and the root causes of hurtful behaviour. Taylor highlights browbeaten victims at the mercy of their ambitious, driven loved ones as well as people driven to take drastic steps as a result of a secret.
With more twists than a corkscrew, this story will have you on a hunt for the truth.

I was gifted this advance copy by C.L. Taylor, Avon Books UK, and Netgalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Publishes April 29, 2021.

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Another gripping story from CL Taylor which I couldn't put down! Taut writing, engrossing characters which keeps you guessing until the end. Many thanks

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You come to Soul Shrink to heal what no-one expects is to die...

2 years earlier Jenna travelled to Gozo to attend a Soulshrink retreat with the prestigious Soul Shrink Tom at the helm... Jenna and two others never returned home.

Tom is now out of prison but Fran and her parents are still seeking answers about the disappearance of Jenna.

This book is told from the perspective of Kate, Tom's right hand woman, Jenna (two years previously) and Fran. It is jam-packed with intriguing characters, some of whom are distinctly unlikeable. Gripping from start to end, a great read. Thank you netgalley and Avon books for the advance read copy!

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As with all C.L Taylor's books,this was wonderful..I've not been let down yet! When a woman goes missing at a retreat her sister tries to find out what happened. Lies,twists,drama..what more could you want?!
A well earned 4 stars from me

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What a story. It kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. All you want is for Fran to find the answers she is looking for.
Tom Wade didn’t seem to get a very long sentence for the deaths of two people, so you know there are unanswered questions.
I thought Fran was mad, going on a holiday run by the man she felt killed her sister. But I did understand why she needed to find out for sure.
There are some real, heart stopping moments in this book- not wanted to spoil the story- I’ll say no more.

Well worth a read. It’ll keep you on your toes.

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Wow wow wow!!! I could not put this book down, it gripped me from the very first page until the very end!

I brilliant psychological thriller this book will keep you guessing, will draw you in and the twists will sneak up on you!

The story follows Fran as she tries to uncover the truth about her sister’s disappearance. The family have been told she committed suicide but her mother does not believe this. Fran is sent on a retreat to confront the man their mother believes knows the truth. What follows is a rollercoaster ride that will have you glued to your seat!

Absolutely brilliant.

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Her Last Holiday is a slow burn of a thriller

Over two years ago, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared whilst on a wellness retreat at the Malta resort of Gozo that went terribly wrong. Tom Wade, the infamous figure behind Soul Shrink Retreats, was held responsible for the disaster that happened and was sentenced to jail. Wade has now just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people, but he has never let on what happened to the third victim: Jenna. Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat in a remote part of Wales – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. Will she find out the truth or face the same fate as her sister.

Alternating the viewpoint between the socially clumsy and outspoken Fran and Tom Wade’s manipulative wife, Kate, Taylor gradually sets the scene for the retreat in Wales and introduces the reader to the various participants. The story also regularly flashes back to the original retreat in Gozo two years before, and we learn through Jenna’s eyes what really happened then. Gradually the two plotlines come together in a surprising and tense climax.

Taylor is very good at creating credible, flawed characters who extrude doubt and uncertainty, but are able to rise above their fears when they need to. Her portrayal of the drab, but determined, Fran is very convincing and the minor characters are also well crafted. It takes a little while to come to terms with the shifting timelines and the large cast of characters from the two retreats, but Taylor steadily guides the reader through it and towards the end creates a nice sense of foreboding. Family relationships, especially between sisters and between mothers and daughters, play an important part in the novel and there is a lot of relationship angst and reflection for those who enjoy that sort of thing.

Some parts of the book do not ring true, but overall it is an enjoyable mix of mystery and domestic suspense. There are also some very good twists and I really liked the book’s final scene.

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I really enjoyed this book! You always know with C.L.Taylor that your going to enjoy it.
I loved the character development and how the story kept twisting in different ways which kept you guessing what happened in Gozo.
I think they ending seemed a bit long. I’m not sure personally which bit i would remove but I found reading it I was thinking oh another chapter.

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I was intrigued by the premise of this novel: a wellness retreat on the island of Gozo, meant to heal people suffering from trauma, becomes the setting for even greater catastrophe - the death of two people in a sweat lodge ceremony and the presumed suicide of another.

Fran’s younger sister Jenna has vanished, her blood and clothing found on a cliff edge. Fran, a delightfully prickly character who doesn’t believe in the psychobabble pedalled by guru Tom Wade, is consumed with guilt that she didn’t listen to Jenna’s problems and now won’t get the chance. When Tom is released from prison after serving two years for negligence in the Gozo deaths, she is horrified to learn that SoulShrink is organising another retreat. Urged on by her domineering mother, she signs up with the sole purpose of finding out what really happened to Jenna.

The story is told in two timelines: the first and second retreats in Gozo and Wales. There are three narrators – Fran, Jenna and Kate. Secretly married to Tom, Kate is the real force behind SoulShrink, unscrupulously exploiting the suffering of their clients for financial gain. Having suffered during the two years when Tom was in prison, she will stop at nothing to revive SoulShrink and regain her former lifestyle. Some of the clients are themselves suspect characters, any one of whom might have played a role in Jenna’s suspicious death.

Fran goes on a journey to discover the truths that many characters are hiding, and to overcome her own flaws. She is seeking not only knowledge of Jenna’s fate but also her own redemption.

It’s this kind of character development that makes a novel like this worthwhile, along with the tantalising mysteries solved.

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Two years earlier, Fran's sister Jenna attended a wellness retreat in Gozo but didn't return home. Something happened that caused the deaths of two people and Jenna to disappear. Celebrity wellness guru Tom Wade served a prison sentence for the deaths and is now a free man. Under pressure from his wife, he agrees to host another retreat; this time in Wales. Using an assumed identity Fran seizes the opportunity to try and discover what happened to her sister.

Her Last Holiday was highly entertaining. Fast-paced and gripping, I couldn't put it down until I discovered Jenna's fate. With dual timelines of Jenna in Gozo and Fran in Wales, I enjoyed how the plot slowly revealed its secrets yet still remained exciting and immersive.

Characters were fully developed and although not all were likeable, I was constantly guessing (and changing my mind!) who was responsible for Jenna's disappearance and why. I thought the story was intriguing and the writing flowed beautifully. I had to suspend disbelief on a few occasions, which really didn't bother me because I was so wrapped up in the story. I was thoroughly entertained and really enjoyed reading it.

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It wasn’t much of a wellness retreat in Gozo for Jenna when she never returned home.
Years later, her sister Fran is searching for the truth. She, too, goes to a retreat. Run by the same people. Do they know more than they are letting on? How coincidental that there are people there, that were on that retreat in Gozo. People hiding secrets, hiding identities.

This is an intriguing thriller, filled with suspense and mystery. Twists and turns will keep you reading.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read Her Last Holiday by C. L. Taylor.

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Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This story focuses on Jenna and her sister, Fran. They have a tough, distanced relationship, and are 12 years apart age wise. Their parents are stiff upper lip types who rarely show emotion, but always present the best of themselves to the outside world. Jenna went on a SoulShrink retreat two years ago and went missing it Gozo, and the police ruled her disappearance as a suicide. On the very same retreat two others died in the outside sweat pool, and the leader of the group, Tom, was arrested and imprisoned for their deaths. 18 months later he is released and goes back to his wife Kate, who also heads up the retreats. Kate has been prepping for his release and is ready to go straight back to work, and get the business up and running again, but it takes 9 months to convince Tom to get back on board. The couple organise another retreat to Wales. On this retreat is Jenna’s sister, Fran, after much pushing by her mother, who doesn’t believe Jenna committed suicide, but that someone murdered her, and that someone is Tom. So, she makes Fran go under an anonymous name to get Tom to confess to killing Jenna. What could go wrong.

This story was brilliantly written, as always by this author. There were so many elements and separate storylines that brought everything together. I enjoyed the characters, and the fact that they’re aren’t all as they seem. I also enjoyed watching the change in Fran softening as time went on. It was a really easy read, and everything blended together so well. This story also dealt with many issues that many people face, which can only be a good thing. This was a brilliant thriller where you are sure you know who has done what, and then a few pages later you find out that you aren’t quite the detective you thought you were. I would highly recommend.

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Really enjoyed the latest novel from CL Taylor. This pacey thriller will leave you wanting more until you reach the very end.

A retreat in Gozo goes horribly wrong with 2 bodies and a third missing. While the man running the retreat goes to prison, a family is left grieving for their missing relative and with many unanswered questions.

A few years later, on his release from prison, the Soulshrink re-launches his retreats, but questions remain unanswered.... can Fran get to the bottom of what happened to her sister?

I was gripped from the start and really enjoyed this novel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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4.5 stars

Her Last Holiday is full of secrets, lies, deception and murder.

Some people are just nasty, some you love and some you are unsure about

Perfect!

Jenna has been presumed dead after a retreat 3 years ago and her sister Fran is going to a retreat held by the same people at the insistence of her not so nice Mum , to get answers to what happened to Jenna.

The story is told from then and now and it works so well as you follow the trail of clues as to what happened to Jenna.

Her Last Holiday is a hard book to put down as you just have to know what happened.

I am a big fan of C.L. Taylor and this book does not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books Uk for a thrill of a read

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Fran, Kate, and Jenna tell this story of a sister searching for answers. Jenna died (or did she?) during a wellness retreat- Soulshrink- run by Tom, Kate's husband, but what happened was never really explained, especially for Fran. She' books herself on a retreat in Wales now that he's out of prison at the urging of her mother in the hopes of learning more. This is as much about the marriage of Tom and Kate as it is about Jenna. Who is really in control? I'll be honest and note that this is implausible in spots but it's also a bit of the sendup of the wellness business. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a fast entertaining read.

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I’d seen a lot of positive reviews about this book so decided to bump it up my TBR pile.

It’s told from the point of view of Fran, her sister, Jenna and Kate. Fran feels guilty as her sister is missing, presumed dead, after attending a self-help retreat in Gozo two years earlier. The sisters didn’t have the closest relationship. Should she have made more effort?
Their mum is insistent that Jenna is still alive, and books Fran on to a retreat with the same company, to see if she can find out what really happened.

The story alternates between Fran, Jenna and Kate, from present day to the retreat two years earlier. As the story goes on, you find out more about the characters and the connections between them.

I found the story almost had two aspects, the mystery of what happened to Jenna, and the family dynamics. This worked well and added depth to the story.

The two sisters are very different and their family doesn’t appear to be very close-knit or lovey dovey. Poor Fran is bearing the brunt of her mother’s criticism even more as the only remaining daughter.
I found the family dynamics very well portrayed and found I could relate to it on some level.

The characters are very varied and although there are quite a few of them, they are distinct enough so it isn’t confusing to remember who’s who.
Kate was awful and I just didn’t like her character at all, I found her so vindictive and controlling. She was definitely a love to hate character!

I liked the plot and the idea behind it, the last 1/4 was particularly twisty. I thought I had it sussed and was proved wrong more than once! I couldn’t put it down and had to stay up to finish it and find out what happened.

I found it interesting that Fran was changed by the retreat, but definitely not in the conventional way.

The book is very easy to read and you get right into the story.

I’ve been to Malta and Gozo so was really looking forward to the descriptions of the setting. I felt it could have been described in a bit more detail, but maybe this wouldn’t have been relevant to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s not “just” a thriller and is well portrayed and balanced.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a copy for review.

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Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and C.L Taylor for an ARC in return for an honest review.

C.L Taylor is the undisputed queen of thrillers!

What a fantastic book. I read this in one reading, I was completely gripped. I will recommend this to everyone. It was so satisfying. I loved the whole thing!

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Couldn’t wait to get stuck in as I’m a fan of C.L Taylor. I was engaged from the the beginning. There is a dual storyline of past and present which is always a firm favourite of mine as your only given enough information so your mind goes into overdrive. I didn’t find any of the characters that likeable which is unusual not to like even one 😆. It’s well written and the pace was perfect for this storyline. There are a good few characters to get to grips but a few chapters in and you know whose who. I was expecting a different ending but it was a really good read that never let up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook that will be published on the 29th of April.

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I don’t often read books from this genre but every so often I’ll come across a blurb that really grabs my attention and I simply have to know more. This book absolutely did that for me. I just couldn’t get the concept out of my mind and found myself coming up with all kinds of theories as to what happened to Fran’s sister. I had to find out the truth!

I quickly felt invested in the storyline thanks to the author’s captivating writing style which brought each character to life so beautifully. I particularly loved switching between ‘then’ and ‘now’ because it enabled me to gradually learn more about what happened whilst still retaining the element of mystery and keeping me flipping the pages.

After numerous ‘OMG’ moments I got to the point where I didn’t know who to trust and what to believe but as events reached a tense peak, all became shockingly clear. I must admit that I hadn’t predicted any of it correctly so the ending was pretty unexpected for me.

Favourite Moments:

* Undercover journalism
* White water rafting
* I Have Never
* The sweat lodge

This was truly an edge-of-your-seat story that captivated me throughout. A must read!

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Her Last Holiday is the newest book from C.L. Taylor

"Tom Wade, the man behind the Soul Shrink retreats, has just been released from prison. Two people died on his last retreat but he never said what happened with the disappearance of the third suspected victim, Jenna.
Fran is determined to find out the truth about her sister, so she's books herself for the upcoming retreat, hoping to confront Tom about what happened to her sister. But someone doesn't want the secret to stay hidden."

This book follows the typical thriller format. There's a current timeline where someone is trying to figure out what happened. And a past timeline where we find out what happened a little at a time. There are several red herrings as you try to figure out what happened to Jenna. Fran, the sister, is a character with the inability to recognize social cues. She's desperate to find out about her much younger sister but stumbles around. It was interesting to watch her change.

Lots of unlikable characters. And more resolution than I remember in a thriller. The killer was not who I thought.

Even though it initially felt formulaic, I found myself drawn into story wanting to know what happened to Jenna. Good read for the beach (but stay away from the cliffs)

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Fran is looking for answers about her sister's death. She books onto a retreat so she can come face to face with the man who might hold those answers. The story is told through the voices of three strong women. The plot is full of lies and secrets. It will hook you in and you won't be able to put it down.

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A terrific story told over two frames, as it flips between now and two years ago - when Jenna disappeared whilst on a retreat in Gozo. Her sister, Fran, now takes it upon herself to try and discover what happened - though the road to resolution is filled with twist and turns as she starts to investigate the organisation Soulshrink, who arranged the event. A really good plot and well rounded characters make for a very enjoyable read that keeps you gripped throughout. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for my ARC.

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Great characters and a clever unpredictable plot. Jenna goes missing at a wellness retreat and is presumed dead. It is left to her sister fran to uncover the truth.

Loved the strong female leads in this book as well as getting the three different POVs

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It’s an approval, and a CL Taylor novel. I dropped everything as I just had to read it next. Thank you to the publisher, and Netgalley for the advance copy.

Fran’s sister, Jena, disappeared on her last holiday, on a wellness retreat in Malta. Two people also died on the same wellness retreat, and the owner Tim was imprisoned for their death. When he is released his company goes back to wellness retreats, and Fran attends one to try and find out what happened to Jena.

This is what CL Taylor does best. The plot is well placed, and the tension is wracked up. There is a dual timeline and narrators, so we get to see two sides of the story. Fran the loving sister trying to uncover what happened to Jenna, and Kate the control freak director of the company. We are transported to Gozo just off Malta, and wet and wild Wales which was lovely during a Covid Lockdown and I was gripped all the way through.

For me this is very well deserved 5 star read. If you haven’t read any CL Taylor then start with this one as its brilliant.

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There are so many things I liked about C. L. Taylor’s latest novel. Her method of switching back and forth between three characters (and in different time frames) worked well with this story. I found myself cheering/fearing for some of the characters while developing strong dislike for others. Best of all, there are enough twists in this story to make a pretzel jealous.

Kate is one of the story tellers. She is half of SoulShrink, a self-help organization she runs with her husband, Tom. A few years ago, two people died and one committed suicide at a SoulShrink retreat in Gozo, resulting in Tom spending a few years in jail. Now that he is out, Kate is dedicating herself to recovering their former allure. A retreat is scheduled, one their finances desperately needs.

Jenna tells the back story, allowing the reader to participate in the deadly Gozo retreat.

Fran—our third storyteller--has been pushed by her mother to attend the latest retreat. Armed with a story to cover her real identity, her goal is to find out what happened to Jenna. While some accept the decision of suicide, there are those who believe that Jenna may have been murdered.

The flipping back and forth between the past and current retreats achieves the goal of slowly ratchetting the tension. Ms. Taylor occasionally drops clues, but even with her help I was not able to successfully guess how the story would turn out. What I really liked was that the twists did not simply appear, they made sense and thus intensified the realism. “Her Last Holiday” is a mixture of mystery, murder, and thriller, and deserves all five stars.

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I've read a few books by CL Taylor now and Her Last Holiday is my favourite! The plot is carefully constructed, taking the reader between the past and the present in a way that creates so much tension! I had so many questions as I was reading and I kept turning pages in the hope that they would be answered quickly!

Taylor's characters are all very different. I'm not sure I liked any of them - even the central character, Fran, is very standoffish - but they have all been developed with a lot of detail. They have complicated pasts and several underlying issues which makes them interesting people to spend time with and I was intrigued to see what their motives were.

Her Last Holiday is full of red herrings and there are lots of twists and turns, especially as the tension escalates. I did guess a few of them, but this didn't spoil the book for me. The ending is slightly open and this has left me wondering what the characters got up to next.

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Two years ago Jenna disappeared while on a retreat run by SoulShrink; at the same time, two other guests died in a sweat lodge. Tom, the owner of SoulShrink was jailed for two years. Tom has now been released and with his wife, Kate, is about to restart his retreat business. Jenna's older sister, Fran, is convinced by their mother to investigate what happened to Jenna by joining the retreat.

The action starts slowly but builds into a real page turner. It is told with dual timelines and through three points of view: Fran's; Kate's and Jenna herself. There are plenty of suspects and some clever twists towards a very smart ending. The characters are not all entirely likable but they are realistic.

This is a well plotted and well written thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest mystery/thriller by C.L. Taylor - 4 stars!

Fran's younger sister went missing and was presumed dead by suicide two years ago at a wellness retreat. The leader of the retreat, Tom Wade, was just released from prison for two other deaths that occurred at the event. His wife, Kate, is determined to reboot Tom's retreats and status and opens up another retreat. Fran books a spot, determined to see what Tom knows about her sister's disappearance.

Told in the POV of Fran, Kate and Jenna in the past, we are surrounded with lots of different characters - somewhat reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel where you aren't sure who's truthful or what their real story is and everyone has questionable motives. A fun read!

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I didn’t get round to reading this book, as I couldn’t find it in my kindle and I forgot about it. I couldn’t log into my netgalley account for ages.

I’m really disappointed that I never got round to reading this as I love this author! I’m sorry but I will rate it anyways and hopefully get round to reading it in the furture

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Tom and Kate run self help retreats and Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared, presumed dead, while attending one. Fran attends the first one they host after Tom is released from prison in hopes to learn what happened to her sister and get closure.

Told in alternating views from Kate and Fran in the present and Jenna in the past, the story centers around the mystery of what happened on the fatal retreat. From the start the book teases us with information that slowly comes to the surface as the book progresses. I am normally not a fan of the slow burn, but for some reason I really enjoyed the slow unraveling of the details of the previous retreat.

The book reads as a simple mystery, but the plot line is more complex than it seems at first glance, and the author does a good job wrapping up the different storylines by the end of the book.

As I read, I flip flopped about whether Jenna died and if she had who killed her. And my impression of the characters really changed as the book progressed. You also know two other attendees died at the previous retreat and my mind was in overdrive trying to read between the lines and figure out what happened to them and if it had anything to do with Jenna.

As summer approaches, I think this is a great beach read thriller. Complex enough to keep your attention and wanting to know what happened and written in an easy voice that was easy to fly through.

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This story is told from the POV of 3 women - Fran and Kate - Now, and Jenna - Then. Fran's younger sister Jenna disappeared 2 years ago after attending a wellness retreat. Fran's mother talks her into finding out what happened by attending the retreat after wellness guru Tom is recently released from prison. Kate is married to Tom, knows all the details from what happened 2 years ago, and has organized the current retreat.

The details of the retreat from 2 years ago are slowly revealed through Jenna's POV and flashbacks from Kate. Some of the same people that attended the event then are also attending the one Fran's at currently.

This story has a lot of twists, and can be a little confusing if you can't keep all of the different people straight since Fran and another woman attending are both using different names. Also, people that have attended previously changed their names after "rediscovering" themselves. Everything came together in the end with an ending that was somewhat predictable, but good nonetheless.

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I love c l taylor books and have now read every one. They never disappoint and grip you from the very start. Loved this story and I didn't also read it in one sitting. 5 stars from me

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Jenna attended a Soulshrink Wellness Retreat in Gozo two years ago but she never returned, the police deemed it suicide but her family don't believe that's true.

Her sister Fran is coerced by their mum to attend the latest 'Soulshrink' retreat in an attempt to find out the truth behind Jennas disappearance.

The story is told from three points of view; Fran in the present, Jenna in the past and Kate, one of the owners of Soulshrink.

This book kept me captivated from the first page, the story slowly builds and keeps you in suspense to the very end.

The three women's characters are brilliantly written, I kept trying to read between the lines to try work out what was going on, who was hiding what.

Another brilliant read from C L Taylor!

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What a gripping read I was hooked from the first page to the last characters where good plot just hook me into plot loved the twist and turns easy to read great book

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I love C. L. Taylor books so I know that once I pick one up, I won't be able to put it down. Her new novel, Her Last Holiday is as gripping and highly addictive as I would expect and I absolutely raced through it, however, I found that I became more puzzled than enraptured as the story went on.

I'll start with the puzzling part...

Whilst the story of Jenna's disappearance and Tom Wade's part in it is very intriguing, the sheer number of characters over two timelines made it a little confusing. Some characters appear in both timelines but they have different names now and some characters in the present are pretending to be someone else so they have two names too. It felt like every other character has two personas and I don't know whether it was an issue with the proof copy but the names sometimes got mixed up. For example, an undercover reporter seemed to switch to her real name (Caroline) part way through with other guests suddenly referring to Joy as Caroline. Also in Jenna's storyline, Tim and Alison stopped breathing yet it was Tim and Bessie who died. Did Alison make a miraculous recovery, was Alison also known as Bessie or was this a proof copy mistake? I certainly did a lot of virtual head scratching but hopefully any possible errors will be corrected in the finished copy and it'll be less confusing.

Now I've got that out of the way, the story itself was very good. Jenna and Fran have the mother from HELL. Oh my god, no wonder they are both f$%ked up. In their mother's eyes, Fran can do no right and Jenna can do no wrong, although the quest for perfection clearly takes its toll and Jenna books herself onto a wellness retreat. When two people die and Jenna goes missing on his retreat in Malta, Tom Wade is sent to prison. Two years later, he is released and rather insensitively, as if sticking two fingers up to the victims, sets up another retreat in Wales. The mother from hell, after losing one daughter this way and without a care for Fran's safety, books a place on the new retreat for Fran. She is hoping that Fran can find out what happened to Jenna, which is more important to her than keeping her remaining daughter safe.

Fran is a really bad actress and a terrible liar, often forgetting that she's supposed to be called Geraldine and I really feared for her safety. With so many people not being who they seem to be, I was filled with dread that something awful would happen to her. It's all very tense and suspenseful as the past is revealed and the present unfolds, which kept me rapidly turning the pages as I approached the satisfying conclusion.

Her Last Holiday is twisty, intriguing, suspenseful and very addictive. Nobody writes such addictive storylines as C.L. Taylor.

Many thanks to the publisher, Avon, for sending me an ARC; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Fran's sister Jenna went missing on a wellness retreat to Gozo, the police say Jenna committed suicide but two other people died at the retreat and Tom, the owner of SoulShrink, isn't talking. He was convicted for the deaths of the other two attendees, and has now been released from prison. His wife Kate is determined to rejuvenate SoulShrink and convinces him to organise another retreat, this time in Wales. Fran's mother Geraldine is convinced Tom had something to do with Jenna's disappearance, and convinces Fran to attend the retreat in her place...but is Fran's life now in danger too?

The book is told from 3 perspectives - Fran and Kate's in the present time, and Jenna from two years ago in Gozo. It's very addictive learning about the troubles Jenna had, her relationship with Tom and the other attendees on the course and the possibility that someone may have been targeting her in Gozo. Fran is a different sort of heroine, she's prickly and self sufficient, she feels bad that she was never close to her sister and that her parents always seemed to prefer Jenna. A part of her just wants to let it lie, but her mother forces her to investigate and soon she realises that some people know more than they're letting on. Kate seems to have given up a lot for SoulShrink, and now she's not willing to do anything else. Her life is crumbling and how far will she go to fix it?

The story is excellent, I loved the intrigue and trying to work out myself what the chain of events could have been in Gozo and what's going to happen next in the present. The chapters aren't overly long and drawn out and all the characters are, if not always likeable, believable.

This is only my second CL Taylor book, my first adult one, and it certainly won't be my last.

Have also submitted review to Goodreads, have been unable to link to my account.

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A good story with lots of twists. I found it hard to get into, but it is certainly a compelling read.

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What a superb book full of twists and turns. Just as I thought I'd figured out the guilty party(s) everything I thought got turned on its head. A thoroughly absorbing read, just couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

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This is an interesting story about Fran who wants to discover what happened to her sister a few years ago.

Usually, I don't like a book written from multiple POVs, and even more so, I don't like flashbacks or entire chapters set in the past. But here it didn't bother me at all. Jenna's chapters were as interesting to me as the other ones. I guess that's because there is a good balance between the Jenna’s and Fran’s chapters. I found both plotlines equally interesting. Of course, there are also Kate’s chapters, but they didn't bother me either. I think it is because of the great writing style of the author that something that usually bothers me, here worked so well for me.

So we have two main characters here, the sisters Jenna and Fran. A few years ago, Jenna took a wellness retreat on the Maltese island of Gozo and committed suicide under mysterious circumstances. Her mother cannot understand what happened to her ideal daughter and forces her much older sister, the rebellious Fran, to attend another retreat and find answers to the questions that haunt her.

Although Jenna and Fran are sisters, they are pretty different from each other. In my opinion, they are perfect for guiding us through this story. They are both are lost, both suppress their emotions, and both try to find a place in their lives. Fran is a woman with a strong personality who has been suppressing her emotions and distancing herself from other people for years. Jenna is a lost young woman trying to find her true self and understand who she is. The picture is completed by Kate, the wife of the man behind the retreat, who we suspect from the very beginning of evil intentions. But is it true?

The author effectively created an atmosphere of unease and suspicion. Like Kate and Fran, we wonder who the participants of the camp really are and what their intentions are. There are some interesting twists and turns, not only at the end of the book. The ending surprised me only to some extent, but it's more a matter of having read so many stories in this genre than anything else. I wasn't surprised by what happened to Jenna, but I didn't predict which people were involved and what their motives were. It was an interesting experience.

This is my first book by this author, but I will certainly read her other books. I recommend this story, especially to those who like discovering family secrets from years ago and complicated family relations.

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This is a great read.
It’s a bit of a slow burner compared to other books by CL Taylor but once it gets going it’s a gripping read.
Fran and her mum and dad have never been able to accept that Jenna is dead following her attendance at a retreat in Gozo.
Their mum is desperate to know what happened so persuaded Fran to attend a new retreat and do some digging with the organisers.
We have chapters from Jenna in the past and then chapters from Fran in the present day. It’s a bit confusing at first as there’s lots of people at the two retreats in the past and present.
Fran is very suspicious of the organisers Tom and Kate, but struggles to get any information out of them.
I loved the last part of the book as there are a few twists that really made the story.
Another great read from CL Taylor.
Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

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Well, what a read!

I don´t know what I was expecting when I started reading this book but I certainly wasn´t disappointed. The storyline is so clever and very original. The characters are very cleverly interwoven, making it virtually impossible to guess the outcome, but when you do, you realise how clever the author has been, and all because of a simple DNA test.......

Looking forward to the author´s next book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review honestly, an advanced copy.

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Wow another great book from this author . Very tense all the way through wondering If the sister was alive or dead and what had happened to her . I loved the ending too with the relationship with the parents . I highly recommend anything from this author she never fails to entertain and keep you guessing. 5 star read

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C.L Taylor is a fantastic author, I have read many of her books and she never disappoints. Her Last Holiday is fantastic, it grabbed my attention immediately and I was on the edge of my seat throughout. The characters are brilliantly written, the way C.L Taylor writes them makes you want to learn more about them and I was really invested in the story. There were plenty of twists and turns throughout and the ending was fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC.

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Thanks Netgalley for this ARC copy. C.L.Taylor never fails to disappoint.

Fran's sister, Jenna, goes on a wellness retreat with Soul Shrink to Gozo and never comes back. Two other people died on the retreat but Jenna's body was never found. When the Soul Shrink founder, Tom Wade, is released from prison and sets back up in business Fran is forced by her mum, Geraldine, into going and trying to find out the truth about what happened to Jenna.

This was a really great, twisty, turny read with some brilliant characters. My only complaint would be that I got a bit confused when Fran was using the name Geraldine then started speaking about Geraldine as her mum. I had to re read a few times but it doesn't spoil the book.

Definite recommended read.

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I was over the moon to receive an AVC first shufty of this book from one of my favourite authors.

C L Taylor does not disappoint in my eyes. Always makes her novels interesting and breathtaking due to really writing a very good plot.

I liked Jenna and "Geraldine" (Fran) who were sisters that were generally not growing up together due to one sister going away to boarding school. Even so they are still feeling the need for each other's company as they grow older.

When Jenna goes missing at a retreat in Gozo, it has been confirmed as a suicide. Blood found on rocks but no sign of a body discovered from the sea below.

It is up to Geraldine/Fran to now go to a new retreat set up by Kate and Tom to try and find out who and why Jenna was killed as it couldn't possibly be suicide.

The novel goes from "now" to "then". Now - Fran and Kate, Then - Jenna. Some books don't make that clear, the aspect of happenings by different people but thankfully this novel does. It's easy to keep up with the plot.

Another excellent novel by C L Taylor and personally I really enjoy the behind the scenes of writing a book from Cally. How she sets up her plots to seeing the books being printed. Very informative.

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For the past two years, Fran did not find any closure. Jenna, her sister, disappeared from a wellness retreat in Malta. Tom Wade, the face of Soul Shrink, was in prison for the last two years. It was not just the disappearance of Jenna; two people also got killed in the same retreat. But during the trial, nothing was ever mentioned about Jenna. Fran and her mother never got any answers.
Kate, Tom’s wife, arranges for a retreat nine months after his prison release.
Fran, though with much reluctance, decides to go to the retreat. She determined to find out what exactly happened to Jenna.

But a retreat where two people got killed and one disappeared will she get her answers or more questions?

The story follows Fran, a 51-year-old IT teacher. With no explanation or knowledge of what happened to Jenna, Geraldine, Fran’s mother, cannot move on in life. But Geraldine’s constant pestering, Fran agrees to go to the retreat with many objections. Fran is supposed to go to the retreat to ask questions to Tom Wade directly.

Fran is an interesting character. She has a no-nonsense attitude and speaks her mind. Fran is twelve years older than Jenna and, this age gap between them has always created distance between them. That is why her disappearance has put her in a state of guilt and grief.

Kate and Fran narrate the story in the present and Jenna in the past. The author presented narrators in contrast. All of them are unique women and, yet they come from similar backgrounds.

The book also has a big pool of characters and, the reader will find each one of them may know something. These red herrings keep the reader engaged until the last page. There is remarkable distinctiveness in each of the characters.

It’s a slow burn story, where it takes time to build the story. But the story does not lose its charm, even for a moment. The author also delved into the relationship of both the sisters and their relationship with their mother. That part portrays raw human emotions and gives a perspective of their relationship.

Her last holiday is a compelling thriller with red herrings and characters that will keep you hooked until the end.

My rating for the book is 3.5 stars.

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This is a great read and a well detailed plot that kept me engaged from the very start.
I really liked the well thought out characters and found them to be believable. I cannot wait to read what the author brings out next.

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I really enjoyed this mystery novel! The characters were all well-built and relatable, and they became even more relatable as we peeled back each layer during the story. As I got closer to the end, I had a much harder time putting this book down. Would definitely recommend!

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C L Taylor has done it again. This is a cracking psychological thriller told from the POV of 3 women. Jenna died under mysterious circumstances whilst attending a retreat run by Tom Wade, the SoulShrink, on the island of Gozo. Her sister, Fran, is trying to find out the truth and is attending the SoulShrink's latest retreat in Wales. Kate is Tom's wife.

I was hooked right from the first page, trying to work out what had happened to Jenna, and who was responsible. Just when I thought I knew where the book was going Ms Taylor threw in another twist to bend my mind! The three women are all brilliant, interesting characters, and there's a whole host of strange characters attending the retreat in Wales.

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A psychological thriller involving Fran's sister Jenna who attended a wellness retreat in Gozo 2 years previously - but didn't return home. At the same time 2 people also died and was this connected to Jenna' s disappearance?

A celebrity wellness guru Tom Wade served a prison sentence for the 2 deaths and is now a free man. Under pressure from his wife, he agrees to host another retreat; this time in Wales. Many people want to talk to Tom about the whole incident, including the media and, using an assumed identity, Fran takes a chance to try and discover what happened to her sister.

A few twists and turns leading to a rather long ending but don't let you be put off by this as Ms Taylor's style of writing is gripping. However, the book does lurch from past to present, and character to character too often for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books for the chance to read and review.

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I was given a copy of Her Last Holiday by C L Taylor by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I have read several books by this author previously. When Fran's sister disappears while on a wellness retreat when Tom Wade is released from prison for the murder of 2 of the members of the retreat Fran wants to find out the truth. Another good book by this author.

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I am a bit of a fan of this author having read all her previous books and, although this one did not reach the heady heights of some of its predecessors, it was a thoroughly decent read all told. OK, yes, I did have to swallow some niggles and suspend belief along the way but the story was compelling enough for me to accept these things and read on...
So, two years ago Fran's sister Jenna disappeared whilst on a retreat. Two other people died and the organiser, Tom, went to jail for his part in the events, declining to speak about what happened to Jenna. Back in the present and Tom has been released. Fran's mum wants answers and needles Fran to try and get her some. Then Tom, egged on by his wife, Kate, arranges another retreat. Fran's mum thinks this is an excellent chance to get the answers and so books herself - well Fran as her - onto the retreat... But will she get the answers she wants, and at what cost?
There are so many secrets and lies going on - all weaved mostly seamlessly throughout the narrative. So much so that my head was spinning so much as I was reading! And duplicitous behaviour aplenty.. oh my days. Told in the present we also have flashbacks to Jenna's time at the original retreat injected at just the right moments to add colour and background to the story as it is being told.
We also have a rather eclectic cast of characters, most of whom have hidden agendas and are harbouring their own secrets along the way. So many that I did get a bit confused at times especially as the sheer quantity got me a bit overwhelmed. I also rolled my eyes at some of them when their truths were discovered and they faded away from the overall truth of what happened to Jenna. In fact, I think about half way through I did kinda lose interest in what happened to Jenna. But, that said, I didn't lose interest in the book as a whole if that makes any sense at all!?
All in all, although not her strongest book, if you can read through some niggles, it's a decent read in itself and does eventually come to a mostly satisfying conclusion. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

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I've enjoyed every single C.L. Taylor thriller I've tried so far, and I've been looking forward to read her newest adult release... I was immediately intrigued by the blurb and the promise of a foreign setting as well as a wellness retreat angle and a mysterious disappearance. I've been seeing mixed reviews, but I shouldn't have worried as I ended up having an excellent time reading this story. Engaging, entertaining and addictive, and while the plot was a tad too predictable to my taste, as a whole I couldn't help but keep turning those pages.

Her Last Holiday uses three different POVs as well as flashbacks to slowly reveal what happened in the past and how this relates to what is happening in the present. We have Jenna, Fran's sister who mysteriously disappeared two years ago. We have Fran, who is determined to discover what happened to her sister during the wellness retreat in Gozo. And we have Kate, Tom's wife and co-creator of Soul Shrink Retreats, who is fighting to get her life back on track after what happened in Gozo. These POVs complement each other well and it was interesting to see how the story evolved through their eyes. I can't say that I found the charac

I really liked the fact that part of the story was set in Malta, although I have to say that I would have liked to see more descriptions to really make the foreign setting come alive... As it is, this part of the story could have been set on any Mediterranean island; a shame as this could have made the story stand out more. As for the plot... While I still like the premise of Her Last Holiday, I do have to say that I found certain parts to be quite predictable, and the same goes for a lot of the twists. It is still an entertaining read and C.L. Taylor's writing is always engaging and strangely addictive, but I wish I would have seen more originality and I felt like the spark that would have taken this story to the next level was missing. The ending didn't convince me completely either... But like I said before, somehow I found myself flying through those pages anyway.

In short, if you are looking for an entertaining and fast-paced psychological thriller and don't mind things getting predictable, Her Last Holiday is a great choice.

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This book was really slow moving for me. I still enjoyed it, but it was not my favorite. I was a little disappointed because I enjoy this author.

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I really enjoyed Her Last Holiday. An intriguing thriller about a wellness retreat that resulted in disappearances, deaths and a whole lot of questions to be answered. Fantastic stuff.

Telling the story through two different time periods really worked for me, I liked learning snippets of what happened on "her last holiday" while following the "current time" investigation into it, and being able to slowly put clues and people together myself. The relationship between the couple running the retreats was really fascinating, and there was a real depth to many of the supporting cast. It was really intriguing, clever and I enjoyed it a lot.

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This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

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I love a C. L. Taylor book - she never disappoints.
In this story, we follow Fran, whose sister died of an apparent suicide at a wellness retreat a few years earlier. Fran decides to go to the retreat herself, undercover, as she believes the owner of the retreat actually murdered her sister instead.

The story is told between the present day retreat and when Fran's sister was at the retreat. As with all C. L. Taylor's books the suspense continues building throughout, until you are desperate to find out the ending.

I wouldn't say it is her best book but it is certainly worth a read!

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Her last holiday by C L Taylor

I’m a big fan of all C L Taylor’s books and this one was another belter ! I love her writing style, there is always a twist and turn and her books always keep you gripped.
Great storyline !
Highly recommended.

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I love books set in past and present with multiple POVs and this one did not disappoint. Each voice was clearly distinct which doesn't always happen in books of this type.

This book is set during two different wellness retreats, the first - 2 years ago - was struck by tragedy while during the second one in the present Fran is searching for her sister Jenna who disappeared during the first retreat.

The twists, turns and reveals throughout this book were excellent and unexpected. The ending showed so much growth for many of the characters.

I would highly recommend this author and will be reading more by them in future.

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Her Last Holiday is a fast paced thriller that kept me guessing until the very end with lots of twists and untrustworthy characters.

Tom and Kate run a company called SoulShrink through which they hold regular wellness retreats for mentally vulnerable people. At the last retreat, everything went wrong. 2 people died under traumatic circumstances and one attendee Jenna went missing, presumed dead of a suspected suicide. Tom goes to jail for his part in the incident.

Fast forward 2 years, Tom has been released, a new retreat is planned and Jenna's family is seeking answers about what really happened to her.

This story is told from the point of view of Jenna, Fran (Jenna's sister) and Kate. I really liked the parallel story lines and how is switched between the past and present. The style of writing created intrigue and as the story progresses, the anticipation builds with the true events of the past gradually being uncovered and new dangers revealed.

I flew through the last few chapters as all of the loose ends are tied up nicely and I loved that the ending took me by surprise. I would definitely recommend this Her Last Holiday to other thriller lovers.

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Two years have passed since Frans sister Jenna went missing on a retreat in Gozo. At the same time two people died and now Tom Wade the man behind the retreat is out of prison. Fran is booked on the retreat to face the man who might be able to tell her what happened to Jenna.

C.L.Taylor is an expert in these kind of psychological thriller/mysteries and has never let me down yet. This is a pacy and engrossing thriller with characters that whilst not particularly likeable are definitely relatable. A great novel which you'll find hard to put down.

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Fran is determined to know the truth behind her sister’s disappearance. A series of events lead her to the retreat where her sister was last seen. The story unfolds told from three different distinct perspectives. Hidden agendas, deception and lies are obstacles to the truth. All is not as it seems as the truth is revealed. Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for my copy.

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I enjoyed Sleep by C.L Taylor and was not disappointed by Her Last Holiday. It’s a tense psychological thriller, and the setting of the retreat in Gozo adds a wonderfully claustrophobic feel to the story, as the main character (Fran to the other guests) tries to find out what happened to her sister. A highly enjoyable read.

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