Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for my ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review. I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this book and was so excited to be approved for the title. Even though the book is not due to be released until November, I skipped over some of the earlier releases in my NetGalley queue to read this one. I'm sorry to say that I was ultimately very disappointed.

The premise of the book is fantastic! Amelia, an aid worker, is intrigued when she receives an invitation to an all expenses paid, exclusive luxury island resort. Amelia soon finds herself on a private plane with six strangers en route to the island. It quickly becomes clear that none of the passengers on the plane have any idea as to what they have really agreed to. The island resort is owned by the mysterious Timeo Technology corporation and passengers are fitted with a memory tracking device upon arrival. The device not only guides the guests through their own personal journeys, it also reveals the deepest darkest secrets of each person to the rest of the group.The secrets are uniformly horrible and all of the characters are unlikeable.

The technology described in the book is amazing, very much like something you would see on Black Mirror. I get the sense that the author is a big fan of the series as Black Mirror is repeatedly referenced in the novel. I loved that aspect of the story and I was willing to suspend my disbelief just to see where this was headed. Unfortunately, it all falls apart. The author reveals the deepest secrets of the other guests on the island but yet the reader is not given enough background information about any of them to care when they start dropping like flies.

The big reveal at the end is beyond absurd. I still cannot fathom why or how the brief interaction the sole surviving guest had with the evil genius behind Timeo as a child could have resulted in a lifelong obsession. I am a huge fan of Black Mirror type storylines and locked room mysteries. This book truly had the potential to be fantastic but the reasoning behind the villain's actions is just so outlandish and tenuous that I couldn't help but be disappointed.

I think the author is very talented and I enjoyed her ambitious willingness to think outside the box. Although this book was not nearly as good as I hoped, I would be willing to give the author's next release a read.

I tried - but this just got too ridiculous too quickly for me to even be invested enough to want to see it through... I'm fine with some suspension of disbelief - but this one went very far past that very early on. On top of that, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, all of whom were odious or irritating in their own way and felt like tropes trotted out to tick off boxes: ditzy girl, check; hipster dude, check; earnest do - gooder, check; brusque older woman, check; obnoxious American, check. The idea that any - let alone all - of these people would just go along with whatever was presented to them right out of the gate, just felt incredible - and not in a good way... I think I'm just not a good fit for this one. I was invited to review it - the blurb sounded dark and fast paced but I never found my way into caring about what was happening and ultimately it's just not my cup of tea...

I think the book was great and had great characters. The story itself had a new and interesting idea then others that i've read. It had such a great build up but then ended so suddenly in my opinion that it didn't do the story justice.

I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley.

I have never read this author before. The book started out slow and got strange. I did not like this book at all.

This was a dnf book for me.

The ending came too soon on this read! This is one of those books where I want every charter to have their own spin off. Though the ending made it all seem a bit random... to not give too much away... it leaves me wanting more mystery, more secrets, more surprises!

This to me was let down by the silly ending. A mixture of Fantasy Island meets Lost, a group of people arrive on an Island with the promise of luxury and a sumptuous party in return for their feedback. Their party consists of a social influencer, a gossip columnist, a paparazzi photographer, a business woman, a nutritionist and a humanitarian.
It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary Island and it isn’t going to be all plain sailing. Then an accident kills one of them and the others realise that they are in danger.
#netgalley #TheLastResort

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was ok unfortunately in my opinion it was not suspenceful enough for me.

This book is like a bad Netflix TV show that you can’t stop watching. Seven people are on a plane to a mystery destination having been handpicked for a luxury experience. After a staged emergency the plane lands on a strange island where they are told they have 19 hours to go. They are implanted with devices that can connect to the neural system. They repeatedly state in a very meta way that it is like an episode of Black Mirror. Just in case we hadn’t realised that for ourselves. It was certainly an intriguing premise and an easy read which I read in one sitting but it is also borderline ridiculous. A series of bizarre events follows where the book can’t decide if it is a horror, a thriller or a mystery and ends up as a messy clash of ideas. Ultimately it turned out that most of the characters were utterly pointless and completely disposable. There is very little explanation of the antagonist and a hashed attempt at backstory. It felt a lot like a rushed first draft with a good underlying premise. I’m giving it 3 stars as in spite of all of this I still enjoyed it.

This was a pain to read. The story was excruciatingly long and led absolutely nowhere. It was a heavy book with no plot and characters that seemed to be going around in circles. I had to keep checking the premise again and again every few minutes to remind myself of what it was about.

Thank you to #netgalley, #amazonpublishinguk and #susiholliday for the eARC of this book.

Black mirror meets survivor meets fantasy island!
What a great idea for a book, I really enjoyed the premise. Because of the way technology is advancing it certainly had a very realistic yet creepy vibe.

I don't want to say much more as I think going into this book blind is the best way, but I will say for me the twist was kind of obvious, and I feel the ending was a bit of a letdown. But other than that, excellent storytelling!

Between the sinister looking cover, and the ominous, promising sounding synopsis, I had high hopes for this book, as it sounded like my exact cup of tea. Unfortunately, I was completely let down, as it failed to deliver and live up to my expectations.

While I believe this was supposed to be a whodunnit/locked room book (aka plot lines in which I love), it was just not up to par in this book and all felt a bit too amateur. There is a cryptic backstory, but its so vague, that its pretty much nonexistent.

The beginning of the story is perhaps the most interesting part of the book, if only because it involves the characters being onboard a plane on the way to a mysterious destination, wondering what's in store for them and why. I almost wish I hadn't found out why, cause it's all so outlandish and ridiculous, TBH.

The plot is essentially a group of cardboard cutout characters, arriving at a luxury resort, going through a series of trials to find out what's really happening, and being killed in dull, ridiculous ways. There's also some futuristic technology involved. I..just didn't get it.

Given a different set of characters, more interesting elements, and a more developed plot line, perhaps I would have enjoyed this a little more. Maybe even a lot more. But unfortunately, I just could not bring myself to like this book.

Unfortunately, this wasn't for me and I can't see myself recommending it, as there are other books similar to this one, but better.

The Last Resort is a wild, slightly over-the-top mystery for those who are able to sit back and just enjoy the ride not worrying too much about logistics. The novel is clearly based on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, but beyond the setting and circumstances the plot is definitely updated. The book is technology heavy which gives it a bit of a different feel and atmosphere than ATTWN. I enjoyed the book, and the technology aspect was an intriguing change that felt sinister because what if tech like this is an option in the future? (That'll definitely be the end of going on vacations with strangers without knowing where you're headed!)

Content Warnings: SPOILER racism; incest; domestic violence; child abuse END SPOILERS

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

Seven strangers find themselves on an airplane, all mysteriously picked to be a part of a super secret, exclusive, ultra luxurious resort. Soon after landing though, they begin to realize that what they thought they signed up for may not be the case, and that things they never thought possible begin to happen. The seven strangers need to work together to survive, but no one is sure who they can trust or cannot trust.

Most of this book had me completely hooked. I could not stop reading, just trying to get to the end as fast as possible because I NEEDED to know what was happening. But the ending left so much to be desired and was a total let down. This book had a lot of potential, and I did enjoy reading it. I just think that the ending was wrapped up too quickly, leaving a lot questions and dissatisfaction for the reader.

The Last Resort by Susi Holliday reminds me of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” but with the modern trappings of a futuristic hi-tech era. It puts a sci-fi twist on a good old murder mystery.

Seven people are invited to a luxury getaway on an exclusive private Island. They’re unsure of exactly what they’re supposed to do when they get there, but soon they realize that the adventure they’ve embarked upon is not what they thought it would be.

They’re fitted with devices that reveal their innermost secrets and as it turns out, they aren’t very nice people after all. Things start to go very strange after that and it becomes apparent that not all of them will make it out alive.

I really liked the concept of the book and how it took modern elements and combined them with the classic elements of a murder mystery.

Each chapter was from the perspective of a different character, and that was quite interesting as well. However, we never really got to know the characters in depth and it all seemed to just skim the surface of the characters’ personalities, which makes them come off a bit shallow.

As much as I enjoyed the book, I thought the ending lacked a certain something. I would have liked a stronger motive for the events that transpired and a deeper connection to the story line.

This is a good book for mystery fans, and especially those who like their mystery with a modern spin.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader’s copy, for an honest review.

One of the strangest books I've read in a long time. I was really excited when I was approved for this book. It had such an interesting premise but ultimately a disappointing ending.

Seven strangers are brought to a mystery location and promised an all-expenses paid 'luxury' retreat where all they have to do in return is test some new products for Timeo Technologies. Sounds easy enough and the seven go willingly. Immediately things are off but like sheep they all follow each other mindlessly. The characters are all quite dull and I wasn't rooting for any of them.

They were told it would take approximately 19 hours to get to their destination, not that they know what their destination is. They also have to walk there. Through dense bush land. Luxury it ain't. I felt like I was reading for 19 hours what should have been a relatively short story. Over descriptions of the surroundings (I get it, they are in the bush) and the characters constant whinging about where they are going were tiresome. However, there were some things that kept me going. It was alluded that Amelia wasn't actually meant to be on the island. She may not have been selected like the other six. I was right about her having ulterior motives but just not in the way I thought. Also, I desperately wanted to know how this bizarre story ended. What were they doing there? Where they all going to start dying one by one Agatha Christie style?

Halfway through, I was still bored. I guess I expected more people to be dead. Or maybe some big revelations? When this didn't happen I was sure the ending was going to be a big one. I only hoped it wasn't going to be like the TV show Lost. You know, no ending at all. All a dream. Please God no. I was wrong. It was worse. Honestly, the most implausible ending I've ever read. The small flash back scenes did not help. The ending just didn't make sense. Probably better off making it all a dream.

Look, the writing wasn't bad. The descriptions of the scenery, vast and wide, were good. I did feel like I was emerged in the jungle and on the beach. And I liked the cover, very eye catching. Sadly, this story is forgettable.

**Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK for providing my review copy via NetGalley.

The promise of a luxury experience on an island turns deadly. 7 strangers chosen for a free luxury holiday on a secluded island. Of course nothing comes without a catch. Holliday put together a thriller with the expected twists and turns. Some loose ends were there but it was an easy read

This book is really a perfect example of missed potential.

The plot is so very promising, and everything I would have hoped for. And Then There Were None with a techy Black Mirror twist? People with dark secrets in a locked room mystery? Of course I was going to get it, but I was so very let down. Some things are truly too good to be true.

But, before I get into some criticisms I must say this book is here for one reason only, and that is to be entertaining. Even though I didn't get as much entertainment out of it, this is honestly a goofy ride and if you're ready to roll with it just roll with it!

Like I said, The Last Resort had so much potential with the technology aspect. But, I didn't find it to be used to its fullest abilities. It was cool, but there was definitely more that could have been done. And atmospherically it could've pulled a lot more off. It felt as if the characters were spending 50% of the book in the same area until the very end. It almost felt claustrophobic in a way and I was begging for something to happen so they could all get split apart. Speaking of characters, I thought a lot was missing. Their basis and personalities are fine, but I was really lacking any of their true character arcs once the book ended. I love subtle dialogue where we get all of the information we need without someone having to actually say it, and this book did the opposite of that. It was almost trying a little bit too hard for me to hate their characters and understand what their goals were.

In the end, this was just for entertainment book. I gave it a one-star due to my thinking "is there anyone I would be able to recommend this too?" And I had to sadly answer a no to that question.

The premise of this book was interesting; seven strangers are invited to an all expenses paid luxury retreat on a private island, under the premise to provide feedback to the owners. When they get there, it’s not quite what they signed up; instead, they are testing a new product for a company for a company called Timeo Technologies which is a memory tracking device & their deepest darkest secrets are broadcast to the group. They realise is some kind of trap they can’t get out of, & it’s a race against the clock for their survival.
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I love a good thriller, & it doesn’t always have to be ground breaking; give me a good Shari Lapena, a Ruth Ware, even the occasional Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen & I’ll be happy. But this book was honestly just ridiculous. So many things didn’t make any sense, the characters were flat & you never really got to know them, so you didn’t really care about what happened to them. I was so tempted to DNF this book so many times, but as it was an advanced copy given to me for review, I felt like I had to push on, because there could be some great twist just around the corner...
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Spoiler alert, there wasn’t. In fact, the more I read, the more laughable it became until I reached the very end where it was almost hysterical in it’s absurdity. The story flicks between the past & now, & the past story is clunky & boring, & when it finally ties into the now & you start to realise what’s going on... it just makes no sense.
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I liked the idea of the memory tracking devices & this was an aspect I haven’t really read in a thriller before; but the execution of this idea was not well thought out.

WOW!!! Wait till you read this story!

The reader is treated to a high tech - but not impossible - suspense thriller!

Seven very different people are invited on a "luxury concept island " trip. Since they are being offered money, too, they had figured - what the heck.
These seven have no idea where they are flying to in their small plane. Upon arrival, shock and utter bewilderment are only their first reactions....

Superb characterization and vivid description add to this wild read. Super suspense awaits at every turn of the page!

Praise for Susi Holliday.

Many Thanks, as always, to Amazon Publishing, UK ; Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a real adventure.!

I want to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and author Susi Holliday for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

This was a reading experience unlike anything I’ve had before! This was a super compelling story that I was unable to put down once I started it. I felt like the author had transported me into this world to see first-hand what was happening. This really kept bringing me back to the TV show Black Mirror, one of my favorites. The idea was spot on. If advancing technology freaks you out, I don’t recommend reading this; it will unsettle you until the awesome twist at the end. But I say get over it and read this!! It was superb!

Thank you again to those named above for the chance to read and review this novel!