This type of thriller is a hit or miss depending on the resolution. And sadly, this just wasn’t for me.
I thought the premise was very intriguing - seven people invitied for a day of luxury on a remote island by an unknown benefactor, all of them have dark secrets that they don’t want known. It had the potential for a very exciting Whodunnit/Agatha Christie-esque mystery.
Sadly, for me, the characters were just not fleshed out enough; I thought their individuell backstories were interesting, but the way they were connected to the overall plot was lacking. The ending was rushed and a bit chaotic; the deaths sloppy and without a thrilling element.
The resolution was - even though it was kind of weird - also a bit predictable.

I did like the writing style and it was a fast read - I read it in one or two sittings.

But in the end, not my kind of thrille, I’m sorry to say.

So this is a rather tech heavy twisted thriller version of Survivor - very original. I really liked the mystery of this latest offering from Holliday. The characters arrive on the island and it’s all shrouded in secrecy including why they’re there. They’ve signed NDAs and they’ve all got humongous dark secrets that they’d rather were kept private. But of course, they’re revealed one by one. I enjoyed how the technology takes front and centre in this story, and it that has them prisoner. I have to say that I didn’t see the big reveal, but I liked how Amelia’s big secret is slowly revealed in snippets (for plot reasons) building to the mystery. And I did try to work out where the story was taking us - and I got it totally wrong! Another great read from Holliday.

When Susi Holliday’s The Last Resort begins, seven strangers board an airplane on their way to a remote island for a mysterious weekend arranged by an elusive host. With that setup, it is impossible for crime fiction genre fans not to immediately think of Dame Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Those allusions certainly do not stop there. However, Holliday also succeeds in bringing this plotline into the modern age by incorporating some technological aspects that feel cutting-edge and timely, allowing readers into the minds of the characters in a fresh approach.

Amelia is the character readers hear from the most – ironic (maybe) given that she is the one person on the island dealing with faulty mechanical equipment. Susi Holliday also gives all the other female members of the group at least one chapter to share their internal thoughts. Interrupting it all on occasion are sections that relate unattributed events that occurred in the Summer of 2000. It does not take a mystery fan to know that those encounters are somehow related to the present-day action on this remote island.

Each of the four women and three men have secrets. The method by which Holliday exposes those long held nuggets of information is unique both for the readers and the characters. By revealing them in this way, the impact is altered for the characters in the novel, allowing readers to “read into” the true meanings of the others’ reactions. It is interesting how each of the secrets is related to timeless emotions – anger, fear, rejection, and guilt to name just a few; but the connection to modern culture via concepts like social media, surveillance, and beyond opens some new angles of exploration.

By tagging each chapter with a countdown to the “big bash” planned for the guests on this island, readers feel the dramatic pull required to keep them turning pages, faster and faster. This technique, borrowed from the thriller genre, works extremely well for this narrative. The homage to And Then There Were None pretty much guarantees that not everyone will survive this weekend and this ticking clock reinforces this idea. The title of the novel also alludes to these possible demises, but also serves the function of having multiple meanings that only become clear as the novel reaches its conclusion.

Susi Holliday has never been one to shy away from unique storylines that often blur the artificial lines between genres. Readers looking for something innovative that also celebrates the origins of the crime genre would be well-served by checking out Susi Holliday’s The Last Resort.

I started off quite enjoying this book I liked the premise of seven strangers all seemingly ordinary but behind that facade all of them had something to hide… they are all invited to a private island and from then on things begin to get a little weird and it becomes clear all is not as it seems. The trouble was as the book progressed I found my interest waning for two reasons I didn’t like any of the characters and also I found the storyline getting less and less believable and very far fetched and I did struggle to continue reading it.
It was a quick read and I did finish the book but I’m sorry to say it just wasn’t for me and ended up being just an ok read and so just 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

An entertaining locked door mystery set on a island resort. But the all expenses paid trip is not all it seems to be each guest has a guilty secret.
A futuristic And Then There Where None.

this was a really enjoyable mystery, I enjoyed trying to figure it out, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the way they interacted with each other.

This book starts with 7 strangers that all have been told that they have been selected to go to an all-expense-paid retreat while being paid a large sum of money - sounds too good to be true? It is!! When the plane takes off they all fall asleep because someone gassed the plane and when they wake up they are on a mysterious island. There they meet Harvey and he puts trackers on their ear that can read their mind and communicate with them. He leaves them and they discover that this tracker knows all their deepest, darkest secrets. They start out on a journey to get to the house for a party at the end of the day but little do they know that not all of them are going to make it that far.

This premise was so intriguing and although it was a good read I wasn't completely in love. Maybe it's because I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan and all of it just seemed so unbelievable and by the time I got to the end i was like...really? The writing was very good and the book was a good idea but just not the book for me.

A group of strangers with dark secrets are invited to a resort where things go wrong. Since And then there were none, this has been one of my favorite premises. The Last Resort started out great. Amelia, who has dedicated her life to helping others, is the main character, since her presence doesn’t make sense among the rest of the rich and fabulous guests. She is likable and smart. We get chapters written from the POV of the rest of the guests/victims. There is a technological twist which required a considerable suspension of disbelief but worked well. The plot is nicely paced, and it’s hard to figure out exactly what’s going on, so I kept turning the pages until the last twist which unfortunately spoiled it for me. My disbelief was suspended so far out that it overloaded and the whole explanation seemed too extreme. Also, the baddie’s motivations were too contrived, more in line with a James Bond villain than with a believable character. To the first 75% of the books I give 5 solid stars because I was engrossed. The rest of the book gets 2 so I’m rounding them up because I actually enjoyed the novel.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Amazon Publishing UK!

This has got Hammer Horror written all over it. It's absolutely bonkers. I loved every syllable of it. I've read other stories by Susi Holliday but this is so over the top it's in a field all of its own. It's well paced, it's compelling. For all that much of the story happens outside in the sunshine I was constantly reminded of a film called The Old Dark House based on a JB Priestly book called Benighted. Great stuff, thoroughly entertaining.

A group of strangers are on a plane, headed to a remote island, to experience a luxury all expenses paid retreat. But, when they land they have no recollection of the journey and that's when things become weird.....

This is a book with a very different premise and I was enthralled. It's an interesting read that held my attention throughout as each individual's 'secret' is revealed.

I don't want to give anything away, so I'll stick to; it's about secrets, consequences of actions, incredible and scary technology and murder. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Susi Holliday for the opportunity to preview and I wish this book every success. Definitely recommend.

I was really excited to receive this from NetGalley as I love this kind of book. After recently reading Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert and The Guest List by Lucy Foley, I was ready for another thrilling adventure set on an island. I read the book quite quickly as it was fast paced and the end of each chapter made me want to keep reading more. On the whole, this was a fresh take on the 'locked-room mystery' and was an engaging read but often the plot became a little far-fetched. I would certainly read more books by Susi Holliday.

The premise of this book was intriguing to me, being a locked room mystery, but it completely fell flat. The characters were flat, and I just could not connect to any of them. I honestly didn't care about reading about testing a product and I just got bored.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion

A trip to a secluded island sure sounds like fun but the story tells us different. I loved getting to know each characters dirty secret throughout the story and thr twist at the end certainly was not expected.

Seven strangers. Seven secrets. One perfect crime.

When Amelia is invited to an all-expenses-paid retreat on a private island, the mysterious offer is too good to refuse. Along with six other strangers, she’s told they’re here to test a brand-new product for Timeo Technologies. But the guests’ excitement soon turns to terror when the real reason for their summons becomes clear.

Each guest has a guilty secret. And when they’re all forced to wear a memory-tracking device that reveals their dark and shameful deeds to their fellow guests, there’s no hiding from the past. This is no luxury retreat—it’s a trap they can’t get out of.

As the clock counts down to the lavish end-of-day party they’ve been promised, injuries and in-fighting split the group. But with no escape from the island—or the other guests’ most shocking secrets—Amelia begins to suspect that her only hope for survival is to be the last one standing. Can she confront her own dark past to uncover the truth—before it’s too late to get out

Creepy thriller that had me guessing! Reminiscent of Agatha Christie! Very engrossing- kept me guessing. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Seven strangers are invited to an all-expenses-paid retreat on a private island, the mysterious offer is too good to refuse.

On reaching the island, they are told they’re here to test a brand-new product for Timeo Technologies. But the guests’ excitement soon turns to terror when the real reason for their summons becomes clear. Each guest has a guilty secret. And when they’re all forced to wear a memory-tracking device that reveals their dark and shameful deeds to their fellow guests, there’s no hiding from the past. This is no luxury retreat—it’s a trap they can’t get out of.

Unfortunately for me this book did not work out. I was intrigued by the cover and the premise but after a few chapters into the book, I did not find it much exciting.

The technology described in the book is something unique and amazing. I just felt that the plot had a lot more to offer especially in terms of the ending since it was kind of weird.

Thank You to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC!

Seven...yes seven strangers and they are all on a luxury trip for the weekend, except that their plane crashes and they are stuck on a weird and creepy island. So weird!!! I had to read and keep reading, find out what was going on with the trackers that they all had.

The characters are....interesting...flawed.... and layered. There are characters that I immediately liked (Lucy) and characters I felt sorry for (Twiggy) and others I was just not sure about (Amelia). There were also characters I did not like (Giles) and characters I felt that I would never really understand (Brenda). James and Scott, well I wasn't sure what to think about them... but more than anything, I wanted to see how they were connected. I kept reading and reading and the ending- well, I did not see that coming!

If you are up for a suspense novel that at times is creepy and at other times is high tech - then The Last Resort should be added to your list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Susi Holliday for this advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of 'Black Mirror', you will love this book! It is full of the same suspense and intrigue and introduces poignant questions about technology and what humanity is capable of as a species. It is a book that really gets under your skin as, although this technology may seem far-fetched, it is not completely unbelievable.

I really enjoyed the premise of the novel and the constant revelations of different characters' darker sides. I sped through this book as I was so intrigued and couldn't wait to find out what was really going on.

However, like many thrillers/horrors, I felt the ending was this book's downfall. I kept wondering where the book was going until it went...nowhere. I feel it is another example of an author having a great idea but not knowing how to tie it up at the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book up until the last chapter, which I found very disappointing.

Great idea with loads of action and suspense which kept me reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Interesting premise. I love the locked room atmosphere and multiple characters. I also liked the technology aspect.