Would you turn down a family holiday in the Scottish countryside? No? Me neither! But if you knew you were going as a circle of six, but would be retuning home as a five, that changes everything, right?

The tension throughout was palpable and Hurst knew just how to keep you in suspense with this, a slow burning drama with a twist in the tail that I wasn't expecting.

Characters that are harbouring BIG secrets make for the best drama, as the further the plot progresses you can see them slowly beginning to unravel and the secret moves nearer to the surface, just waiting to be exposed.

The Holiday Home was a one sit read for me, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. It's entertaining, exciting and Hurst is definitely an author to recommend.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This tale reminds me of a serial written specifically for a weekly magazine where a set number of words have to be used each week and where the characters aren’t rounded or fully developed.
A very easily forgettable read with a silly plot.

OMG what a twisted tail Daniel hurst has to tell. When Nicholas best friend Kim invites her and her husband Ryan and 11 year old daughter to their new holiday home Nichola is excited to go. Ryan isn’t so happy but he goes to make Nicola happy any goodwill Ryan might have fostered by going on the trip is almost lost away when he sneaks Louis and Kim‘s son Cole a beer, despite Louis and Kim telling Cole he cannot drink until he’s 18. That night when going to bed Nicola sees Ryan has received a text and it’s from Kim and it says something to the effect of watch what you doing Louis and Nicola may find out what’s happening or something similar to that and so now Nicola is like “why is my best friend texting my husband? “ she doesn’t say anything that night but the next day while in the hot tub she asked Kim and Bian”OKk I want you to tell me the truth what’s going on between you two?“ when they try to feign ignorance Nicola is not letting them get away with that But before they can answer her next question Louis tells her her daughter is upstairs crying it’s so she’s forced to leave the conversation where it’s at. When other things happen that prevent her from leaving she decides to wait until the proper time to talk to Ryan but soon after she hears something that she can’t keep to herself but again is forced to buy circumstances and eventually instead of wanting to know the truth she’ll simply want her and her daughter to live. this book has the twist I have come to look forward to with Daniel hurst a true storyteller but I do want to say that it’s obvious he is in a mechanic because at one point a battery goes dead and yet they keep trying to turn it over thinking that’s going to get it to start… That made me chuckle. What can I say as I said it’s a Daniel hurst book and you’ll get everything you’ve come to expect from him and more as this is absolutely my favorite book is written. Sound good so twisty so worth reading. I received this book from NetGalley and Bookoucher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

If you like a twisty novel with multiple narrators, then this book is for you!
Two couples go away for the weekend and buried secrets come to light. This is a fast paced story that you won’t put down!

Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

EXCERPT: The silence in this part of the world is deafening, the area around this luxury log cabin in the Scottish Highlands so quiet and still that it's starting to become unnerving. Or maybe it just feels that way because of everything that has happened since I got here.
I move around the cabin to distract myself from the incessant silence and, as I do, a floorboard creaks beneath my left foot, the noise so loud that it startles me. And now I can hear my heartbeat thudding in my chest.
I suspect I can hear the blood pumping around my body too, or at least feel it, but I know that's not a normal thing to be aware of. I'm usually occupied enough not to be thinking about such a thing, but here, it's as if time has stopped and I'm aware of everything.
Like the call of the bird in the trees just outside the cabin, its piercing shriek cutting through the silence like a hot knife through butter.
Or like the loud snapping of a branch on the forest floor nearby, perhaps caused by a deer. Or could it be a human?
And lastly, the deafening gunshot in the distance, a sound so loud that it causes me to cover my ears and close my eyes.
When I open them again, I immediately rush over to the window and look outside, afraid of what I might see but needing to check, nonetheless. All I can see are the trees surrounding me on all sides. But that gunshot is still ringing in my ears, and I won't forget it easily.
I need to know who pulled the trigger.
And is anybody hurt?

ABOUT 'THE HOLIDAY HOME': The perfect holiday or the perfect nightmare…

I sit sipping champagne in the warm water, bubbles frothing around me as I admire the breath-taking view of gorgeous blue skies and mountains. I can’t believe I’m here, at this stunning holiday home. It’s to die for…

My best friend and her husband have invited me and my family to their lakeside property for the weekend, to experience their luxury lifestyle. I’m not envious of their wealth, although I know my husband Ryan is. All I want is to escape from our recent troubles and get my marriage back on track.

Then I overhear Ryan having a whispered conversation late one evening, and he says something that sends a shiver down my spine. In this beautiful paradise my whole world is turned upside down.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, I discover a second secret. The truth is even more shocking than I imagine, and now I have no idea who to trust.

This was meant to be the perfect holiday, but someone isn’t going to survive it…

MY THOUGHTS: The Holiday Home is told from multiple points of view - Host Lewis and his teenage son Cole, Nicola and her husband Ryan. This mostly works well, although there is a little duplication.

Secrets, lies and a secluded holiday destination - yes, it's been done before, but Daniel Hurst manages to put his own particular stamp on it.

The husband's, Ryan and Lewis, only tolerate each other because of their wives close and long-standing friendship. There is a fair bit of 'muscle flexing' as the men try to assert their superiority. Ryan is jealous of Lewis's wealth, and Lewis is jealous of Ryan's easy relationship with the teenage Cole.

The wives, Nicola and Kim, roll their eyes at the men's stupidity and run interference as needed, but they are secure in their friendship and determined not to let the men ruin their weekend.

But then something happens that causes one of the women to examine their friendship more closely, and from thereon in, it all begins to unravel with disastrous consequences.

I enjoyed this, as I have enjoyed everything I have read by this author. It's entertaining, but, in this case, I thought the final twist was a step too far and unnecessary.

Will that stop me from reading this author again? Definitely not. He never fails to surprise me at some point, and I am looking forward to his next title.

⭐⭐⭐.9

#TheHolidayHome #NetGalley

I: @danielhurstbooks @bookouture

T: @dhurstbooks @Bookouture

THE AUTHOR: Writer/wanderer.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing both a digital and an audio ARC of The Holiday Home, written by Daniel Hurst and narrated by Zoe Mills and Richard Burnip, for review. All opinions expressed in the review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my profile page on Goodreads.com or the about page on Sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also posted on Twitter, Instagram, Amazon and my webpage

Pure Daniel Hurst and I loved it as always
However I would say that the plot/story seemed similar in some ways to one of his other books ( maybe because they were both set in lodges ),I guessed the crux of the story and that was down to one line fairly early on in the book that gave it away ( easily imo ) these 2 things did not however spoil this book at all but are just my thoughts on them
The pace is great,the tension and build up superb and as a storyteller the author is very hard to beat at hooking you and keeping you there,it gives you an urgency to carry on reading,he is also the master at making characters quick to know,without much preamble you are there with them and feel like you have known them ages
A guaranteed ‘got to keep reading’ and exciting read
Look forward to the next from this prolific author

Kim and Nicole have been best friends for so very long. Their families join together at Kim's holiday home for a nice relaxing break. Just how well do they really know each orher.

Another spectacular story full of twists and turns. The story is told through multiple characters points of view. Lies and secrets are uncovered. I like the way in which you are let into the mind of the character and you can feel their emotions and become invented in their actions. I would like to have heard a bit more from lewis but the clever writing meant when i did i was overcome with expectation.
The end act finished a bit too quickly for me but was well executed but it seemed in places to go too far too fast.This is a relatively short book and Daniel does well in the time. Look forward to reading the next

Getting together with friends for the weekend should make for a wonderful, fun and relaxing time. But for Nicola, Ryan, Kim and Lewis it soon becomes a nightmare. The Holiday Home was a gripping, entertaining and hard to put down read for me.

Nicola and Kim have been best friends for a long time. They enjoy getting together with their spouses and children. Things have been tense between Nicola and Ryan and she hopes this time will be just what they need to get back on track.

But when she overhears a conversation, the trip becomes a nightmare! But that is not all, things are about to get worse. Who can she trust?

This book kept me on my toes and wanting more at the same time. I loved the pacing and the sense of unease and tension that grew as the book progressed.


This was pure escapism reading for me. It was highly entertaining, gripping, kept me on my toes, and full of twists.

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for an eARC of The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst!

This holiday home is to die for. My best friend and her husband have invited me to their lakeside property, and it's the perfect time to get my marriage back on track. Or is it?

Juicy secrets, friendships and relationships gone wrong - This book puts you in the perfect setting for what one would only describe as a nightmare. I enjoyed this one, but didn't fall in love with the story. Regardless, I am looking forward to reading more books from this author!

Nicola, Ryan, and their daughter Emily join Kim, Lewis, and their son Cole for a weekend getaway at Lewis and Kim’s luxury cabin in Scotland. The cabin is remote with no cell phone service so they plan to spend the weekend relaxing in the hot tub and catching up with friends. However, when Nicola accidentally overhears a conversation, the vacation takes a turn. The story is told primarily from Nicola’s POV but occasionally shifts to Ryan, Lewis, and even Cole’s POV. Everyone has something to hide. Who will make it out alive?

Daniel Hurst delivers short chapters that end with cliffhangers, making you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Unfortunately, the suspense and tension were a little lacking in this one. It was not the typical Hurst novel that keeps you up late at night reading. The twists were also a little more predictable than Hurst usually provides. Overall, it was an enjoyable read even if it was a little predictable. I did enjoy the different POVs provided throughout the story. I would give it 3/5 stars.

I have read a couple of books by Daniel Hurst and always enjoy them. When I saw The Holiday Home was being released I knew I wanted to read it. I always wonder if the quality of the writing will be as high as his last book and yes, it is.

A holiday, with friends in Scotland. What could go wrong? Nicola, Ryan and their daughter Emily go on a weekend getaway with Nicola's friend Kim, her husband Ryan and their sons Cole,to their luxury cottage. With a hot tub and even champagne all they need to do is relax and enjoy...they think. Until Nicola overhears something that turns her world upside down. She knows she needs to get away before someone is harmed...but can she?

A psychological thriller set in a location that couldn't get much more secluded. Characters that aren't all likeable help the tension to build too. Daniel Hurst has cleverly written this thriller. In a way that whenever you think you will put the book down at the end of the chapter. It's a cliffhanger with more secrets being revealed and you have to keep reading.

Yet another tense, suspenseful and fast paced story from this author. I found it a page turner which I really couldn't stop reading until I found out how it would all play out. I look forward to what Daniel Hurst writes next.
Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley

Nicola and Ryan plus their daughter, Emily, 11, have been invited to join their friends Kim, Lewis, and their son, Cole, 15, to stay at their secluded, large holiday home in Scotland. The drive is about 5 hours so everyone is pleased when they finally arrive at this lovely home.

Kim and Nicola have been friends for many years. They first met at school and roomed together for some time before they each got married.

Cole is an unhappy teen because there is no wifi signal so he can’t talk to his friends or get on social media. Emily is more excited about the hot tub that she gets in with the adults. Ryan and Lewis seem to one-up each other and drinking does not help matters.

When Nicola overhears Ryan and Kim talking in the hot tub, a shocking secret is revealed which will change her life. Furious, she just wants to go home. But, the battery has died in the car and the men decide to walk to the main road miles away to get a signal to call for assistance. This is when something devastating happens and one of them is dead. How will they get out of there alive?

This was a pretty good book. Emily and Cole are the best characters. The others - not so much. The weather and the remoteness of the home makes this setting very unappealing. However, it is a clever plot, so enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Not what I expected at all!

This book starts out as your typical family and friends vacation. Sure, there's some tension between the men of each household, but boys will be boys, right? Wrong! There's more to it than that; lies, deceit, cheating, and murder!

The book started a bit slow, but when it picked up, it really picked up. Twist after twist, I was at the edge of my seat. I couldn't put the book down until I finished.

Daniel Hurst never disappoints!

In true Daniel Hurst fashion, this was a fast paced twisty thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I will try not to be too negative in giving this review… but it will be quite difficult.
The description of the story was way over the top for what transpired. The characters are not interesting either as individuals or as a group and if a co-incidence happens twice in a book it’s twice too many times for me.
Add to that this author does not follow some basic laws of grammar which is a pet hate of mine and uses I when it should be me.
Sorry this book obviously was a bad choice for me but lots of other good reviews prove you can’t pleas3 all of the people all of the time.

The perfect holiday...or the perfect nightmare...?

There's no place like a holiday home, especially a beautiful log cabin nestled away in the Scottish Highlands with only the birds for company and the stunning views of the loch from every window. A spa (hot tub) on the deck and a roaring woodfire to nestle in front of on those cold rainy days or nights.

Sounds perfect, doesn't it? And that's exactly what Nicola thought when she first laid eyes on it as and hubby Ryan began their weekend escape with her best friend, her hubby and each couples' respective children.

Nicola and Ryan live a modest life where they just about get along without all the extras. Unlike Nicola's best friend Kim who married well and whose husband is able to keep her in the lap of luxury to which she has become accustomed. Hence the stylish holiday home in the Scottish Highlands purchased probably in excess of seven figures. And so when they invite them on a weekend escape to the said holiday home, how could Nicola and Ryan resist? Each have their own reasons for wanting to be there...or not. But there is already mounting tension between the men, as Lewis keeps goading Ryan whilst Ryan matches him with wit and humour.

When Nicola catches Ryan staring at sexy Kim in her bikini, she begins to wonder if he finds her friend more attractive thus leading to her second guessing herself. I was a bit over the "fat shaming" Nicola was doling out to herself. It made her seem a little shallow that it was even important. But I bet I'd need a magnifying glass to spot the rolls of fat she claims to have.

But soon Nicola will realise that she has far more to worry about than how many pounds more she carries next to Kim. And pretty soon, things will explode in a way no one saw coming (except maybe the reader) leading the characters on a merry dance that was a tad predictable, but still enjoyable.

And before the weekend is over, secrets and lies will be uncovered leaving one of them dead and another running for their lives.

Who will survive?

THE HOLIDAY HOME is one of those books that you can't say too much about as some of the reveals come early ramping up the tension in what becomes a pressure cooker of walls closing in on them from which all of them want to escape.

Since I discovered him just fourteen months ago, Daniel Hurst has become one of my favourite authors that I auto-request without even reading the description because I know whatever he delivers will be worth it. There is no such thing as a bad book by Daniel Hurst (I say that about Shalini Boland too but it's true in this case also) as I know every book will be entertaining from start to finish. And up until now I would have said every book was a thrill ride but I found THE HOLIDAY HOME, as enjoyable as it was, was lacking in the usual thrilling elements and twists that have become Hurst's own unique trademark. It's true I guessed all the twists long before they were revealed...except the final one, which I felt cheapened the main character and made her just as bad.

I do love Daniel Hurst's domestic thrillers and I always look forward to the next one as his unique style is just exceptional. As he is such a prolific writer I doubt we will have long to wait for his next offering...and I can't wait!

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHolidayHome in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst Narrated by Zoe Mills, and Richard Burnip was an excellent audiobook, with great twists and turns throughout that will just have you gripped from the beginning till the end, This was an audiobook I just had to start and finish it to see what happens, so glad I did not have anything planned for that day and I had a baby blanket to finish.

The narrator Zoe Mills was excellent and it took me a while too warm to Richard Burnip. I highly recommend this audiobook. I love the way Daniel writes.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review for The Holiday Home

I enjoyed the author’s previous books and I knew I was in for a ride with this new addition.
Two couples and their children go on a holiday in the Scottish countryside.
The settings is beautiful and sets the vibe perfectly for what’s to come in the story.
The mothers have been friends for years and their friendships was based on honestly, or so it seems like. But there are many hidden secrets and lies and thoughts that will come out when least expected.
Told in multiple pov, I loved that we can actually be in more than one character kind and some were really intriguing thoughts.
It kept me guessing who was the villain although I suspect more than one was because while not being hand on , they all had secrets and motives to get rid of the others. There’s a say that person alike will always come together and it kinda happened in here. I didn’t trust any of them even if the plot was pointing out to some of them and making you feel sorry or take their part. That’s always a plus in my cards when the author takes you on a route but it ends up on the totally different direction.

It’s suspenseful and intriguing, a domestic thriller that many readers will enjoy.


Arc review

What an amazing roller coaster ride! I never knew who lying and who was honest and it kept me turning page after page. The plot was great, the character development on point and the end was a shock! Daniel Hurst is a new favorite of mine!

I have been searching for books set in wooded areas, and when I saw Holiday Home, it fit my theme. I received both a digit and an audiobook through NG. While I read and listened to it, I enjoyed listening to it more.

What is going on between the covers

Nicola and her family are invited by her best friend Kim and her husband Lewis to their lakeside cabin for the weekend. She overhears something that has turned her world upside down and wants answers from her best friend and husband. Secrets start to come out as the danger increases.

My two cents

The secluded luxury cabin in Scotland attracted me to read this one, and I enjoyed the isolated feeling of danger in the story.

The story is told through multiple POVs, with Nicola as the primary narrator. I enjoyed listening to Zoe Mills' voice as she narrated Nicola's POV, but I didn't enjoy being in her head. She rambles on about her worries and that becomes annoying quite quickly. I had this nagging feeling I couldn't shake that this was a male author writing a woman's POV, and she sounded weak and whiny.

The pace is fast with short chapters ending with foreshadowing adding some suspense to the story however it also felt repetitive.

Overall: The Holiday Home is a fast-paced entertaining story with some flaws that doesn't require much attention making it an easy one to listen to.