I never want to go away wirh friends again after reading this novel!! A great read, full of secrets, lies and murder! I really enjoyed it, thought it did start off slow. Stick with it though, it's so worth it!

A roller coaster ride of emotions. Sitting around the campfire toasting marshmallows should be fun or it could be your last.

This was definately a little slow to start, but about half way it definately picked up & I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.

You will never want to go away with friends ever again after reading the chilling new thriller by Amy Sheppard – The Last Holiday.

In her friendship group, Annie had always been everyone’s shoulder to cry on. She knew everybody’s secret and was always the person they all turned to to confess when they cheated on their partner, had an affair or else succumbed to whatever temptation had been on offer. Everybody trusted Annie; after all they had all been a part of one another’s life for years and years. When they go away on holiday, the friends are gathered round the fire on a Saturday night and with the wine flowing, everybody’s inhibitions come down and an innocent and supposedly harmless game soon takes a dark and sinister turn.

On Wednesday morning, Annie’s body is found. One of her most cherished friends is responsible for her death. But which one of them could be? What did Annie know about them that had driven them to murder? Could the questions Annie had asked during the game they played on Saturday night have ended up signing her death warrant. A killer is hiding in plain sight and having killed once before, there is no doubt that they wouldn’t think twice about striking again.

Amy Sheppard’s The Last Holiday is a chilling thriller that grabs you from page one and will keep on you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Full of brooding atmosphere and chilling twists and turns that will leave you reeling, The Last Holiday is a tense and nerve-jangling read perfect for T M Logan fans.

Book Review: The Last Holiday by Amy Sheppard

Rating: 4.5 Stars

My first thought when I finished this book was, “With friends like these, who the hell needs enemies?” Good lord, talk about some toxic friendships. My second thought being, “Wow, this was a really good book!” Amy Sheppard’s psychological thriller, The Last Holiday, is a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will leave you gasping at the twists.

The story begins innocently enough, as a group of old friends embark on one last holiday together. As they gather around a campfire, secrets start spilling out amidst the flowing wine. Annie, the keeper of their secrets, starts asking probing questions that worries someone. There’s something they can’t let her bring to the surface. When tragedy strikes and Annie is murdered, all eyes fall on them...

Sheppard does a fantastic job of creating a fast-paced narrative that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. The writing is engaging and well-crafted, allowing the story to unfold seamlessly. The characters, without exception, are awful human beings. But that’s precisely the point, and it’s what makes this book so compelling. Their toxicity adds layers of tension and intrigue to the plot.

The mystery itself is well plotted, and the author expertly plants clues along the way. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Sheppard throws in unexpected twists that will leave you reeling. As someone who prides themselves on being able to anticipate plot twists, I must admit that I did not see this one coming. The author’s ability to surprise me deserves applause.

The Last Holiday is not just a typical thriller; it delves into the complex dynamics of friendship and the dark secrets we keep hidden. It explores the lengths people will go to protect their own interests and the consequences of their actions. Sheppard skillfully navigates these themes, keeping readers on edge with each turn of the page.

In conclusion, The Last Holiday is a fantastic read that combines gripping storytelling with well-developed characters. Amy Sheppard’s ability to create an atmosphere of tension and suspense is commendable. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unexpected twists, this book is a must-read. Brace yourself for a thrilling ride that will leave you questioning your own friendships.

Disclaimer: This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary.

Loved this book. I love a book that involves old college friends , and a camping holiday. Highly recommend to everyone.

Tristan, Stella, Annie, Charlotte and Jack have been friends since they were at college over twenty years ago. They plan a reunion with a camping holiday to Cornwall with their partners and children to celebrate Annie’s daughter Rose’s eighteenth birthday. What should have been a wonderful holiday turns into a nightmare when old secrets begin to surface and then one of them is found murdered, DCI Price and her colleague DI Green are sent into try and solve the case it but soon realise that all of the friends are potential suspects. This is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read this year and it had me completely hooked. There were so any shocking secrets, tension and atmosphere and plenty of twists and turns. A fantastic read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This took me a while to get into, however once it got going I really enjoyed it and then needed to keep listening to where it was going and yes there is an amazing ending. The narration really worked and suited the story and the characters.

Why I havent given it five stars I kept thinking of a plot device that was used which confused me.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book.
This is my first title by this author and I really enjoyed it.
This book had me hooked the whole way through and I could not put it down.
This was an awesome thriller and had twists and turns galore.
Thanks again would recommend to anyone wanting a thriller.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A group of friends gather for a holiday in Cornwall but for one of the group it is their last holiday ever. Annie dies and one of her friends may be the murderer...
The Last Holiday is a psychological thriller with an element of murder mystery.
Over two decades of friendship and secrets come to a head on a final holiday before lives change forever. Annie, Jack, Charlotte, Tristen and Stella became friends at college but all of them have something to hide. I was absolutely capitivated by the dynamics of the relationships between this group of friends.
Secrets and lies from the past and present simmer under the surface and there are motives aplenty. I found it difficult to like Annie even though the chapters from her perspective show her vulnerabilities and explain her actions. The other characters have their flaws too, making them seem authentic and human so I felt an emotional connection with all of the lead characters.
The book is written from various points of view (all female) in the first person to show the lead up and aftermath of events. I liked the inclusion of the lead police officer to show the progression of the case but also her emotional state of mind as she struggles with her own personal circumstances.
There were plenty of twists as secrets are revealed and links are made between the past and present. I had a few theories about how things would work out but wasn't quite right. Even in the final chapters, the author threw in an extra twist or two!
The Last Holiday is a gripping thriller and mystery.

Wow. I read this in 2 sittings. 5 friends from college meet for a summer camping holiday. For 25 years their lives have intertwined and been peppered with secrets.

An innocuous summer break threatens to implode the friendships that have tenuously clung to the past. When one of them is found dead the secrets start to tumble out and it’s clear no one will be left unscathed.

This was a real “who done it” for me. I’m usually pretty good at working things out but this one had me foxed and the twists kept coming! Told through the eyes of the friends in the past, the days leading up to the death and the investigation almost gave the book a cinematic feel. I felt connected with all of the narrators who each had their own flaws and ways of perceiving the story. Well recommended for those who like their crime/ thriller/ mystery books. Thanks to netgalley, the publishers and Amy Shepard for the advanced copy to review. I already have another book by Amy queued up to be read next!

Normally I don’t like books about a group of friends. I’m really not sure why I requested this one. I didn’t like all the POVs and I found it to be too long.

I guess we all have done it at least once: going to a gathering or party when in fact you really do not want to go. You do it anyway for old times sake and because it will be fun or that's what some say it will be.

This is what happens here too. A group of people who were friends during their college days decide on going on a trip. Some of them are their with their partners, new or old, and some even brought their children. 

What should have been a pleasant week turns into a nightmare. Some secrets that were kept for years suddenly surface and for one of the once tight group, this holiday is the last one they will ever go on.

It's up to DCI Price and her colleague DI Green to solve the murder case. 

Normally all is well that ends well. The book ends well because the killer is caught and the author saved a few shockers to treat the readers too as well.

The author has decided to give a few of the characters to tell the story from their point of view, taking us back to the past as well to give more background information.

A very enjoyable book with me trying to guess who the culprit was and failing again, of course. :) 5 stars

This was a superb plotted,absolutely stunning read. Loved loved loved this one. One of my favourite reads of 2023! I will be reading absolutely everything by this author. Don't miss this one - I guarantee you will love it.

The Last Holiday by Amy Sheppard

Published: May 30, 2023
Bookouture
Pages: 345
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Amy Sheppard lives by the sea in Cornwall with her husband and two teenage boys. Amy creates recipes for her followers and for brands under @amysheppardfood She has written two cookbooks.

“That’s when everything changed.”

Charlotte is a devoted mother to Theo, and she tries to be a loving wife to Tristen, but he has been distant lately. Jack and Kelly are living a life of luxury, but the secrets hiding in their life could ruin everything. Annie tries to be a loving mother to Rose, but it isn’t easy. She wants to do it all. Stella has found happiness with Nate, and she is looking forward to their future. But one of these people won’t be returning from vacation.

Holy buckets. This was a twisted web is lies, secrets, scandal, and toxic friendships. This was told by alternating narrators with alternating timelines, and the way this overlapped throughout the story was clever.

There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but they were all well-defined. Charlotte was obsessively in love with her husband, who was stuck by doing what he considered the right thing. Annie was desperate to find an investor to help her save the business she had built, but she couldn’t be honest about her struggle. Jack looked like he was living the life, but he was on the verge of losing everything. Stella wanted a fresh start, but the past wasn’t willing to be forgotten.

This was such a well-laid-out house of cards. The way the build-up was done and the way everything crumbled was so intense. Amy Sheppard has such a talent for creating absolute chaos, and then when the big reveal happens, you don’t see it coming.

This was such an excellent read. I devoured this book in a day- it was impossible to put down.

This gripping psychological thriller is fast paced and kept me guessing throughout. It’s told through several points of views and adds to the intrigue with everyone having some sort of secret they want to keep hidden. Sheppard left me shocked with some secrets and major ones revealed at the end that I never saw coming, with a heartbreaking turn for one character. What a whirlwind of a book! It’s simply great and the narration of the audiobook is wonderfully done by NaomiFrederick!

Thank you, AmySheppard. Bookouture, bookouture audio & netgalley for my ecopy & audiobook! All opinions are my own.

It took me a while to engage with the characters and the plot, but once I did I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

The Last Holiday is a well plotted, twisty thriller. Just when I thought I'd got it all sussed out Sheppard goes and throws another mouth agape moment in, which I wasn't expecting.

Picture the scenario, you're off on a much needed break and an overdue catch up with friends. But one of your friends has an ulterior motive up their sleeve and one of you won't be coming home.

Told from several different POV and the constant jumping from past to present did confuse me a little at first, but as I've said, once I'd navigated this the story flowed and I found The Last Holiday to be a highly entertaining and engaging read.

I'm never going camping again!

The Last Holiday by Amy Sheppard is the type of psych thriller that has a lot going on. It’s up to the reader to sort out what is important and what isn’t.
The base of the plot is good. A group of friends gathers together for the last holiday together. Do they know it’s the last one? Have they had others? That’s a little murky (more on that later).
The dynamic of the group is interesting. We get that they go back years, and that they’ve maintained ties over time. But there’s been a rift lately for some reason.
I think that is the one thing that drags the story down. It didn’t feel like they had really been all that close in recent years, so the whole holiday thing felt…forced.
Maybe that was the point?
At any rate, once the author introduces everyone (via chapters from different POVs), it soon becomes apparent that this once tight group has a LOT of secrets that they’ve all been hiding from each other. So, when a major event happens, it’s not a surprise that everyone starts looking at each other sideways.
I thought the character dynamics were okay. Some of the relationships were a bit difficult to grasp, but as secrets were revealed, it became obvious why those were tenuous.
I didn’t quite get the point of the relationship the DI had with the group. It felt superfluous. However, she had a part in a couple of good twists, so I guess she was useful.
Overall, The Last Holiday had me turning pages to find the next revealed secret (and of course to solve the “whodunit”). I’ll definitely be looking for the next psych thriller from Amy Sheppard.

For more reviews like this, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks.

The Last Holiday is absolutely fantastic. It is full of tension, secrets and lies. The twist was a jaw dropping moment that I did not see coming and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

One group of friends…
One campsite holiday…

What more could we need? This is a book that I have been excited about and it has delivered. This has been a brilliant read from beginning to end.

Sheppard provides a multi narrative which allows us to feel as though we know the characters better. I always enjoy this because we can almost get inside their heads.

I loved how events unfolded and this was perfectly paced. The police had a difficult case ahead of them and I loved putting each puzzle piece together.

I was pulled in by the writing from the beginning and quickly became unwilling to put this down. This is a great read and one I found impossible to put down.

I loved the setting, I was transported from the comfort of my front room. This was a brilliant read and one I was captivated by. I can’t wait to read more by Sheppard.