not my favourite thriller of all time but would recommend to anyone who wants a quick and captivating read. My biggest issue is that when I downloaded the book the spacing format made it extremely hard to read and that took away from the reading experience for me! I changed the font size, font, and margins but still the format was not working for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Publisher Knopf and Author Clémence Michallon for the advanced e-copy of Our Last Resort.

The idea of a cult.. A cult told from the inside?.. this might be my guilty pleasure, what really peaked my interest in this book. This is a perfect palate cleanser, one that got me out of a slump.

The dual timeline added the extra touch this work needed to combine the stories and create proper character development. Close to the middle of the book, the story picked up, and I was invested in Frida, the main character. Her thoughts, her perks.. her quirks.. but her brain.. She's beautiful.

Not to go too much into detail, I was invested in the development of the three main events - crimes - criminal investigations that were left somewhat open, but always threatening to reveal the truth to the wrong person, and how it affected Frida and Gabriel. All in all, their love is strong and is what's keeping them together.

I adore the uniqueness of Clémence Michallon's books. Whilst this story isn't as gripping a thriller as her last book was, it is a fascinating exploration into the lives of Frida and Gabriel, who grew up in a. cult, and the impact it had in shaping the people they become as adults. The character development is outstanding and the writing flows well.

When the "siblings" take a holiday at a luxury resort together, they find themselves caught up in a murder case. As the investigation gathers momentum, secrets from the past start to unravel, making Frida and Gabriel question how well they really know each other and who they can trust.

The plot is fast paced and there are some epic twists that had me floored! A great read!

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Clémence Michallon and Elliott & Thompson for an ARC of this book.

, I’d like to thank NetGalley, Clémence Michallon, and Elliot & Thompson for the opportunity to read Our Last Resort in exchange for my honest review.

I flew through this book—it completely sucked me in and held my attention from the start. The writing was immersive, and the pacing made it hard to put down.

I was especially fascinated by the cult elements and the emotional journey of Frida and Gabriel as they escaped that life and worked to build something new for themselves. Their resilience and quiet strength were compelling and heartbreaking all at once.

While I did have a sense of the twist coming, and it didn’t totally shock me, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.

This was a fast paced and captivating read, perfect for those who enjoy psychological suspense with emotional depth.

The story is told from Frida's POV over a dual timeline. We learn about her and Gabriel's past while in the present, the police close in on the killer.

Their past reveals some dark secrets, but what impact do those secrets have on who they are now?

I would say this is a suspense thriller and a fairly slow burn one, but the pace picks up in the last part as the culprit and secrets are revealed.

I enjoyed it, but not as much as her first book The Quiet Tenant.

3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4⭐️ on Netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley, Elliott & Thompson and Clémence Michallon for the ARC of this book to read and review. My opinions are my own.

** spoiler alert **


Our Last Resort
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC given for review. All opinions are my own.

Our Last Resort was for me a book that for as many pages it had it really didn't say much. I felt like it was two stories in one. On one end we have the cult flash backs that the two siblings had survived and then trying to solve the murder mystery of one of the guests at the resort during the present time. I felt that what was going on during the present time between Frida and Gabriel was overshadowed from what happened when they were kids in the cult.
When the truth was uncovered of who and why the person was killed at the resort fell flat because something that Frida had done nine years ago seemed to bring a conclusion to the story.

Gabriel and Frida grew up in a cult led by Emile. At some point while they were teenagers, they decided to venture outside of the estate and discovered there’s a whole different world out there. However they stayed with their mothers and Emile. Once Frida reached 18 years old, things changes, not for the best. That’s when they realized something wasn’t right and started to plot how they’d leave that place.

They had an incredible bond. Gabriel and Frida were not siblings by blood, but by choice. They had endured a lot from being in the cult all the way to learn how to live in the real world.

The story taking place at the resort showcased that they were both invited to stay there to give an interview about growing up in a cult. However, shortly after they got there, there had been a murder, and Gabriel was one of the suspects.

Frida was trying to figure out why, what happened and how she could prove he didn’t do it.

The development of the characters is very well done. It’s fast pace, and suspenseful. There’s 2 timelines but it gives a lot of concept and understand on the main characters. I really liked the ending too, very fitting to the story.

I would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing an ARC in exchange of my review.

I just finished OUR LAST RESORT by Clémance Michallon, who wrote THE QUIET TENANT, which is probably the best thriller debut I’ve read in a WHILE. So I had high expectations for this one!

The book starts in the middle of a vacation for two siblings in a luxury resort in Utah and flashes back to their childhood in a remote “community” (ahem, a cult). At the result, a woman is dead, and in looking into the murder, Frida and Gabriel’s cult past — as well as the mysterious disappearance of Gabriel’s wife — come to the surface. Frida again steps up to protect her brother who she thinks — no, knows — couldn’t have ever murdered anyone. Or could he?

I was definitely hooked and had to know how the siblings escaped their cult, who killed Gabriel’s wife, and who killed the lady at the resort. I know — a LOT going on and a lot to figure out. I think it was maybe too much? It somehow felt like too much and not enough, with a lot of what felt like filler? I can’t exactly put a finger on it.

The book is expertly woven with three mysteries. Pacing was pretty good, but the sibling relationship was kind of… odd. But maybe that’s to be expected of these cult kids lol.

Thank you knopf for the gifted e-ARC.

While not as suspenseful as “The Quiet Tenant,” I still enjoyed this mystery thriller by Clemence Michallon. It seems if a lot of today’s thrillers are centered around cults and I’m a bit weary. Still a good read.

Frida and Gabriel arrive at a hotel in a secluded desert looking for a fresh start. While they are enjoying all the luxuries the hotel has to offer, their paradise suddenly turns darker when the body of a woman is discovered. When the police arrive suspicion falls on Gabriel. Frida must revisit memories of the past from their upbringing in a cult to work out if he is really guilty.

I found The Quiet Tenant by this author intriguing so was looking forward to reading this one, hoping it would follow in a similar way. This ended up being another well written story told in dual storylines. I have to admit that I found the past storyline when they were in the cult much more compelling than the present time and would have enjoyed more focus on this.

I found the characters under developed and I couldn’t find a connection with them and although I found the mystery element to this story interesting, I found there weren’t many twists, meaning it ended up a bit too predictable. I also found that although I found myself intrigued by the start of the story, the pacing slowed quite a lot as the story carried on. Even though I had some issues with this book, it is by no means a bad read and I can see plenty of readers who enjoy intense slow burns getting a lot from this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this one! Our Last Resort is emotional, beautifully written, and full of heart. The setting was dreamy, the characters felt so real, and the story had just the right mix of romance and depth. I didn’t want it to end!

I really wanted to love Our Last Resort, but found the pacing to be very slow, making it hard to stay engaged.

The novel’s biggest strengths are its vivid, isolated setting and nuanced character portraits. Michallon writes beautiful, detailed prose, and the retreat itself almost becomes a character. The story deals thoughtfully with themes of secrets, healing, and the difficulties of trusting others. The narrative moves at a very slow tempo, with extended periods where little of significance occurs. While I appreciated the depth of the relationships and the atmospheric writing, I was left wishing for more momentum and fewer lingering ambiguities.

For readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven mysteries, this could be a good fit, but I personally craved a bit more action. Overall, a solid 3 stars.

⭐ Rating: ★★★★½

📚 Genre: Mystery / Psychological Thriller

🖋 Publisher: Elliot & Thompson

📅 Release Date: [Insert date if you have it]

🙏 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

First Things First…

This is my first time reading Clémence Michelon, and wow—I am impressed. Our Last Resort is her second novel (as far as I can tell), and if this is any indication of her voice and style, I’m absolutely on board for more.

The Premise 🏝🕵️‍♀️

Frida and Gabriel grew up in a cult. Yep, a full-blown cult. The narrative moves seamlessly between two timelines: their traumatic past and their uneasy present. The present sees them reconnecting at a secluded resort, where (of course) a woman turns up dead. Coincidence? Not a chance.



The story gradually peels back the layers:

What exactly happened in the cult?

What was the trigger that finally made them leave?

And how is this new death tied to their shared past?

The Vibe 🧠💭

This is less about twists-for-the-sake-of-it and more of a slow-burning, psychological mystery. Frida narrates, and I really appreciated that she didn’t feel like an unreliable narrator just for dramatic effect. Instead, the revelations felt earned—cleverly timed without being manipulative. It’s a masterclass in withholding just enough and letting the story breathe.

Themes That Hit Home

This isn’t just a whodunit. Michelon digs into meaty questions:

Why do people do awful things?

Are they inherently bad, or shaped by circumstance?

Can you ever really shed the past, or does it follow you like a shadow?

And what does family mean when it’s been forged in something as toxic as a cult?

Final Thoughts ❤️🖤

Our Last Resort stands out in a sea of thrillers. It feels fresh, emotionally resonant, and psychologically astute. I genuinely haven’t read anything quite like it. It also earns the rare honour of being my favourite mystery/thriller I’ve read from NetGalley this year.



Highly recommended if you like your mysteries with emotional depth, complex backstories, and a little bit of philosophical heft.

⭐ 5 Stars (4.5 rounded up)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this thrilling and addictive read!

Told in both present and past timelines, Our Last Resort pulled me in from the very first page. The pacing was relentless, keeping me completely on edge and making me genuinely anxious—in the best way. The writing is sharp and immersive, building tension with every chapter as secrets from the past slowly unravel and crash into the present.

I loved how the dual timelines seamlessly wove together, deepening the suspense and creating a layered story that was impossible to put down. The characters were brilliantly complex, and the desert resort setting added such an eerie, atmospheric vibe.

📖 Blurb: A luxurious desert resort becomes the backdrop for a gripping tale of secrets, betrayal, and survival. As the past collides with the present, nothing is as it seems, and every choice could be deadly.

This is a fast-paced, anxiety-inducing must-read that will keep you up late at night turning pages. Perfect for fans of The Quiet Tenant and psychological thrillers that deliver both twists and emotional depth!

While I enjoyed the Clémence Michallon's debut novel, THE QUIET TENANT, OUR LAST RESORT took me a little longer to get into and ultimately, fell flat. Michallon's immersive writing remains consistent across both her novels, and was really what kept me going. Otherwise, the story left me with a lot of questions. I didn't quite understand the necessity of the dual timelines as there was little connecting the two stories. I wasn't engaged in the present timeline, and by the time I got to the "reveal" I thought to myself, "Alright, I guess that makes sense," but by that point the present timeline had run out of steam; it was clearly relying on the past, and the cult narrative, to give it some promise. The novel was ultimately lacking the suspense element I was looking for. I'd recommend this for readers who are looking for a murder-mystery novel and not a thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson Publishing for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

More of a slow burn thriller which isn’t as much for me. Saying that though there’s a great storyline behind this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A slow-burning thriller where the real tension isn’t the murder; it’s the memory.

A slow-burn mystery wrapped in desert heat and childhood ghosts. Our Last Resort is part thriller, part trauma tapestry, where the real tension isn’t just the murder at the luxury resort, but the murkier question of how we survive what raised us. Frida is an unreliable narrator in the best possible way-not coy, but protective; and her story unfolds with restraint and emotional weight.

The trauma seeps through the pages; not just the flashy trauma (cults! assault! abandonment!) but the long, quiet ache of attachment gone missing. Michallon writes with compassion and a quiet confidence. She lets her characters be human: broken, self-protective, sometimes soft in ways they don't even notice.

I stayed not for the whodunnit, but for the ache of it all: morally gray characters, fractured siblinghood, and the rare moments when a stranger’s kindness changes everything.

A four-star for its layered character work and quiet psychological power. Without that? It might’ve been a three. But the people in this story stayed with me, and that counts for something.

If you come for the thriller, you might wish it snapped faster. But if you stay for the character study, for the trauma rendered in fine strokes and the shadowy softness of memory, you’ll be rewarded.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #ElliotandThompson for the ARC.

I loved the cult aspect of this book. I read this book pretty quickly, it definitely had me hooked. However, I didn’t absolutely love it. Frida and Gabriel were boring, in my opinion. The who dun it for one of the twists did have me guessing until shortly before it was revealed.

3 stars

I absolutely loved _The Quiet Tenant_, to the point where I think of it every time I encounter a certain kind of dude or a specific style of property. The events and characters of that novel have haunted me often since I first cracked that read. This is why I immediately requested Michallon's newest effort, _Our Last Resort_, with incredible enthusiasm. This is not a bad read, but for me, it did not match the majesty of its predecessor.

Readers meet Frida and Gabriel in the present day at a secluded location. These two have a remarkable history. They grew up together in a cult, experienced incredible trauma as a result, escaped under less than amenable circumstances, began to consider each other siblings, became further enmeshed in each other's lives, and then drifted apart. Now, they're back together to mend...just kidding. They are back together, but let's be real. These two have a lot to work through and work out, and it's not going to be a chill vacation by any standards. In case anyone thinks otherwise, a young woman immediately ends up dead. This event becomes the catalyst for a wild ride between past and present.

Reader, you may think you know what a central reveal will be...and you will likely be right. You may also quickly guess at other details. For me, this transparency was too much for the genre. I wanted some mystery here. I also wanted some more depth to the characters and faster pacing (which should've especially been achievable with multiple timelines. There should have been a lot happening).

Coming off of a much-loved earlier book AND having just read another fantastic mystery/thriller by a different author, I found myself wanting a lot more out of this decent but not totally mind-blowing read. I'm really looking forward to returning to Michallon but hopefully finding more of that earlier magic.

OUR LAST RESORT - I ha a difficult time with this book. I did not care for the writing style, the characters, or even the story lines. Instead of stopping at 47 percent, I skimmed the rest of the book, which did not satisfy me any. I'll just say this book barely makes average. Source: Netgalley. 3*