For fans of The Quiet Tenant, author Clémence Michallon's sophomore mystery novel Our Last Resort is a quietly haunting novel that jumps between past and present, exploring how our history shapes our future. A 4.5 star read for me.

Frida and Gabriel are siblings, but not by blood. They are tied together by their past upbringing, both children raised by a cult and its manipulative leader, who chose each other for family and eventually helped each other escape. As a result, their adult identities are inextricably intertwined and enmeshed.

When they reunite at a luxury resort in Utah, their fragile peace is shattered by the sudden death of a fellow guest. This isn't Gabriel's first experience with a young, dead woman and the crime brings up darker chapters from his past. As suspicions begin to swirl, Frida is left to uncover what her brother is really capable of.

There are multiple mysteries woven throughout both timelines and I enjoyed each equally. The tension builds slowly with deliberate pacing and quiet intensity as each layer of the story is peeled back. I love books that delve into the psychology of cults, particularly the lasting effects of being raised in such an environment, and this depiction of life under the rule of a false prophet was compelling (though I would have loved even more backstory on the cult).

The dynamic between Frida and Gabriel is complex, and as a reader it's hard to know if you can trust Gabriel. At times it appears Frida has the same struggle as well. Their connection is both a comfort and a trap. A theme throughout this novel is loyalty and identity, especially for two people as trauma-bonded as Frida and Gabriel. Can they really exist without the other?

As for the twist ending? I was surprised by it but it didn't surprise me; a subtle, thoughtful jolt that lingers long after the final page. A quiet but powerful triumph from Michallon. I highly recommend.

2 5 stars.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, but it wasn't for me. Found it very slow and dragged out. Although others may love it. Thank you to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson for ARC.

4.5 STARS rounded down

If you love your thrillers with a side of psychological mind games, cult secrets, and family drama-this book will give you that. We dive into the twisted world of Frida, who escaped a cult years ago with her kind-of-brother, Gabriel. Spoiler: life after the cult? Still messy.

👀 The Plot (No Spoilers, Pinky Promise):
Frida and Gabriel haven’t spoken in forever—awkward since his late wife was Frida’s best friend. When a documentary comes knocking (is it about the cult? Or the death? Or both?!), they agree to meet at a fancy desert resort. Naturally, someone ends up dead (because of course they do), and Frida and Gabriel find themselves in the middle of yet another mystery. Cue the suspense, the secrets, and the I-don’t-know-who-to-trust vibes.

💔 The Characters:
Frida and Gabriel’s relationship is complicated in the best way—loyalty, distrust, trauma, and those are-we-really-family? questions swirl through every page. The cult backstory adds an extra layer of creepy intrigue that I wish went even deeper.

⏳ Pacing & Feels:
I devoured this one in two days as it was one of those thrillers where even if some twists are a little predictable, the ride was so good that I didn't care. I did wish the big killer reveal had a bit more oomph.

🔥 Why You’ll Love It:
✔ Cults & psychological twists
✔ Untrustworthy characters
✔ Locked-room resort murder mystery vibes
✔ Fast pace with deep character feels
✔ That creepy past catches up tension

Whether you’re into morally gray leads, page-turning suspense, or just love a thriller that keeps you up past your bedtime (guilty!), this book is definitely one for your TBR.

Thank you NetGalley & Elliott & Thompson for the ARC!

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐, 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.
𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕.
𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅.
𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒑𝒊𝒐𝒏.

3 stars: ★★★

Clémence Michallon's writing style is BEAUTIFUL, and after reading her debut thriller, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒕, I was ready to jump into this one ASAP.

Did it disappoint? 𝐀 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞
Would I still recommend it? 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐄𝐒

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰-𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭-𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

This one just wasn't for me—maybe because it was too slow for my liking, or maybe I was hoping for a more edge-of-the-seat, gripping thriller—like her last one, which I absolutely DEVOURED.
There were moments I was so bored I had to skim read through several pages, skipping a lot in between. And I don't like doing that in a book.

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝:
—The effortless, easy-to-read, lyrical writing style (Did I say how beautiful before?)
—The seamless weaving of the past and the present.
—THE SIBLING BOND. It was everything. It was raw, gutting, and heart wrenching in every damn way. Beautiful.

𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒚, 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑻𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑲 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝒕𝒐 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚, 𝑪𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

A big thank you to Knopf Doubleday and NetGalley for the eARC of this book! It was a unique thriller with eerie cult themes, murder mystery, and all the vibes for a suspenseful summer read! Michallon is best known for her novel 'The Quiet Tenant,' and I am very excited to go back and read that as well.

The main character Frida and her brother Gabriel are at a resort in Escalante, Utah when suddenly a woman is found dead and her wealthy, older husband is the suspect. Frida tries to assist in the police investigation, but she grows suspicious of her brother's behavior, whom was also once a main suspect in the disappearance of his wife.

The dual timeline of this book takes us back to Frida and Gabriel's childhood where they grew up on a commune as unwilling members of a cult in the Hudson Valley of New York State. Emile, the leader of the cult, was a France native who convinced the members of the many evils of 'outside-outside.' Frida and Gabriel have many dark secrets from their past and how they eventually escaped life on the commune. They also had a falling out at some point in their relationship, and this is slowly revealed to the reader as we toggle back and forth between past and present.

I am honestly shocked at the mediocre rating and reviews for this book. I could not put it down and loved every twist and turn. The account of their time spent on the commune was interesting and disturbing, and I found it fascinating to follow along. Frida and Gabriel show what it means to truly stand by one another as family who have endured some of the darkest chapters of life together. Some of the locations mentioned in this book (NYC, Hudson Valley, Bloomfield NJ) are all places I have lived, which helped solidify my interest. Michallon's writing is descriptive and captivating, with impressive metaphors and personification. The chapters are also very short, which I tend to favor in a book. I would highly recommend this story to anyone looking for an unsettling mystery/thriller to pick up this summer.

Themes/Topics/Trigger Warnings:
*Dual Timeline
*OCD/anxiety/paranoia
*Age gap
*Cult/commune
*Child Abuse
*Murder
*Missing persons
*Violence/assault
*Rape/sexual assault
*Depression
*Fire/arson

Happy book birthday to my birthday twin!

Unfortunately I didn’t like this as much as I expected. I didn’t hate it, but maybe I went in with too high of hopes? I adored The Quiet Tenant, but found this fell a bit flat in comparison.

For a book that starts you right in the action, it read really slow. I felt like not a lot was going on for most of the book. And the set up for what was happening was not super clear, which made it very confusing. While I did like the flashback chapters quite a bit, they didn’t connect well to the present timeline and felt like two different books. Which is a shame because I would have devoured a book solely about the cult chapters.

I still really like Michallon’s writing so I did enjoy reading this well enough, but the story didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Knopf and Netgalley for this ARC. Our Last Resort is out today!

Our Last Resort is told in dual timelines from Frida's perspective. In the past, she was raised in a cult in which members were taught to be independent individuals who follow their elusive leader, Emile. While navigating this peculiar environment, she seeks solace in Gabriel. They deepen their relationship as found siblings, they dream and explore what the outside world could possibly hold.

Present day, Gabriel and Frida haven't spoken in a number of years. They are both leading ordinary, real world lives, but they are still connected through their troubling pasts. In attempts to reconnect, they are meeting at a luxury resort in the middle of the Utah desert. Here, while trying to navigate their bumpy relationship, stakes are raised when another resort member turns up dead.

Now, in what is a locked room murder mystery, Gabriel and Frida are stuck with one another whether they like it or not. While they question how well they truly know one another, they navigate the current murder investigation.

---

Our Last Resort is a first for me by this author. When looking at other reviews, I saw this one being described as a literary thriller, and I think I agree. This was not as twisty like a popcorn thriller, more so it was more introspective and character driven. The relationship between Frida and Gabriel was truly at the forefront of the entire story. We see them reacquaint themselves with one another while getting glimpses to their early years where they originally bonded. Yes, we had mysteries in multiple timelines, but it kept coming back to those characters. For it to be such a character driven story, I felt like they could've been more developed, as I didn't necessarily connect with them thoroughly. On the other hand, I was highly invested in the murder mysteries, and yet they also felt like it could've been developed more. However, the dual timelines really keep the pace up and makes you wanting to addictively read more.

Ultimately, yes I enjoyed the character dynamics, but it just didn't land with me like it might for others. If you're into exploring complicated family dynamics, this one could definitely be for you. While this one wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, I'm excited to explore the author's backlist and future works.

*Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Elliott & Thompson Publishing for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review.*

3.5⭐️ but just couldn’t round up because it took me forever to read. The story has good character development and an interesting premise, and I do think the writer has a nice writing style. But mostly I just wasn’t fully invested and found I kept forgetting about this book. Loved her last novel and looking forward to seeing what she writes next.

🏨Book Review🏨
*
My Thoughts- thank you @knopf and @netgalley for the advanced copy! I read The Quiet Tenant last year and it easily made my top 10 of the year. This one is beautifully written and swivels between past (a cult) and present (a murder). I was definitely drawn more to the past time line, the present just didn’t really hold my attention. I couldn’t really get invested in the hotel murder and the ending really fell apart. It felt like a thriller without a twist. The writing in this is beautiful and the past time line really hooked me, in fact I wanted to more of it. It was still a solid cultish mystery but it fell short for me. 😞
*
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
*
Summary- Frida and Gabriel arrive seeking a fresh start at the stunning Ara Hotel in the secluded desert of Escalante, Utah. Once so close they were able to finish each other’s sentences, they’ve grown apart in recent years after a sudden, unspeakable tragedy. Now, at the luxe resort, they are ready to reconnect between dips in the pool and hikes on spectacular desert trails. It all feels like paradise—until the dead body of a beautiful young woman who was vacationing at the Ara with her powerful, much older husband is discovered.

When the local police arrive and suspicion quickly falls on Gabriel, Frida is forced to revisit memories from their upbringing in a cloistered cult in upstate New York, their dramatic escape, and the scandal that followed. Frida’s belief in Gabriel’s innocence never wavered at the time, but now even she can’t ignore the evidence mounting against him.
*
QOTD- any plans to go away this summer ? We have a wedding in Arizona soon for a friend and are headed to Dewey Beach Delaware in August!
*

Our Last Resort follows two siblings who were raised in a cult, now navigating adulthood while trying to outrun and understand what shaped them. Told in a dual timeline that toggles between their chilling past and a present marked by a suspicious death (one that places one of them under scrutiny... again), the story steadily unravels layers of trauma, guilt, and memory.

The pacing is deliberate, at times almost too much so, but the payoff is worth it. The emotional depth of the characters, especially the sibling dynamic, is where this novel shines. They’re flawed, believable, and often heartbreaking.

Not every twist is surprising, but the atmosphere is thick with dread, and the writing is sharp, introspective, and unflinching.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers that focus more on character than shock value, this one’s for you. Think: long shadows, buried memories, and a truth that refuses to stay hidden.

This was a solid, suspenseful read with some good emotional layers. I absolutely loved the author’s first book, The Tenant, which was one of my top reads last year, so I was really excited to get the chance to read her newest release early.

This one follows Frida and her brother Gabriel, who escaped a cult fifteen years ago and are now trying to reconnect at a luxurious Utah hotel. But when a murder occurs, Gabriel becomes the prime suspect. I loved their messy sibling bond and how old secrets slowly unravelled. The shifting timelines worked so well and made the mystery really satisfying to piece together.

The cult aspect was excellent and had me hooked from the start. Where it fell a bit flat for me was the character development. Frida and Gabriel didn’t feel fully developed, which made it hard to care about their journey or the outcome. The writing often felt surface-level, and the pacing dragged in parts, especially in the middle, which made the story feel a little disjointed overall.

I still enjoyed it and thought it was an interesting story. I’m excited to see what this author writes next, as this one felt very different from her debut.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Elliott & Thompson for the ARC.

3.75 stars rounded up

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an early access copy of ‘Our Last Resort’ in exchange for my honest review. This releases on July 8th.

I LOVED the author’s first book, ‘The Tenant.’ It was one of my favorite books of the year and I was recommending it to everyone! When I saw that she had a new release coming, I knew I needed to have my hands on it. Maybe my hopes were too high but this did not give me the same feelings her first book did. This one was quite meh in my opinion.

There are two timelines we follow, and it’s difficult at times to follow along with the story when the timelines alternate. The main characters were decent, but nothing to write home about. The cult aspect of course was excellent and had me intrigued immediately. I guessed one of the major twists at the end, so it left me feeling bummed for the rest of the book, even with another twist that came and was kind of what I was expecting.

The format for this was awful. I know it’s a review copy but the spacing was all weird and some random letters in words were capitalized. I imagine that the published physical book won’t have these errors but I am taking away a star just for that because it made it difficult to read at times.

Overall this was a decent thriller but did not meet my high expectations. I won’t give up on this author yet! I feel like a lot of authors fall victim to the sophomore slump when they release their second novel.

2.5 Stars – Disjointed Mystery with Untapped Potential

Our Last Resort had all the ingredients of a gripping psychological thriller: a luxurious resort setting, a mysterious death, a traumatic past rooted in a cult, and fractured relationships weighed down by grief and secrets. But despite its promise, this story never quite came together.

Frida and Gabriel travel to the remote Ara Hotel in Escalante, Utah, seeking a fresh start after an unspeakable tragedy. Their fragile reunion is interrupted when the body of a young woman—married to a wealthy, older man—is discovered. As suspicion falls on Gabriel, Frida is forced to confront their past: a childhood spent in an insular cult and the aftermath of their dramatic escape. Told in dual timelines, the novel attempts to peel back the layers of their relationship and the secrets they've buried.

Unfortunately, the book felt like three different plotlines competing for space: the cult backstory, a mysterious earlier crime, and the current murder. Each of these narratives had real potential on its own, but together they felt underdeveloped and disjointed. The cult storyline, in particular, seemed unnecessary and never delivered the emotional or psychological impact it could have.

The characters themselves were difficult to connect with. Frida and Gabriel felt like outlines rather than fully realised people, and as a result, I found it hard to invest in their journey or care about the outcome. The writing often felt surface-level, and the pacing dragged in several places, especially in the middle. While the premise suggested suspense and tension, I found most plot points predictable, with little in the way of genuine twists or surprises.

In the end, this felt like a thriller that tried to do too much without fully delivering on any of its ideas. The concept was intriguing, and Michallon’s writing shows promise, but the execution left me disappointed.

Thank you to Clémence Michallon, Elliott & Thompson, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I adored this book. Flitting between 'then' and 'now' it's absolutely gripping as you try to understand the relationship between Gabriel & Frida and wonder how they ended up where they are and how they are. And also, what secrets they're hiding. A brilliant book!

This was a thriller where halfway through I definitely guessed what the outcome was going to be. It was entertaining and I didn’t want to put it down because I needed to know if I was right. I enjoyed The Quiet Tenant and was so happy to have gotten to read this one early as well.

I just couldn't get into this one. I admit I'm not a fan of cult storylines but I just didnt feel invested in the story. I loved this authors first novel so I look forward to trying the next one!

This was one of my anticipated reads for 2025 after loving The Quiet Tenant. Unfortunately, I didn't connect as much with this book. Admittedly I am not a fan of cult books either so that didn't help. I was very underwhelmed. Please still read as you may find you may love it. This is my opinion only.

15 years ago, Frida and her brother, Gabriel, escaped a cult. Fast forward to the present, the siblings are on vacation in a luxury hotel located in the Utah desert. Things take a turn when one of the hotel guests is murdered. Gabriel quickly climbs the suspect list. Despite the growing evidence against Gabriel, Frida does not believe her brother would commit murder....or at least she is pretty sure.

This books alternates between the present and Gabriel and Frida's past life in the cult and post-escaping the cult. Overall, it was not a bad read, but it was not my favourite. It was a bit slow and dry at times. The final "twist" was not surprising at all - seen it coming from a mile away. Very anticlimactic. I wish there was more suspense, thrill, and escalation. We also do not get to learn a lot about the characters; the character development felt very superficial.

Thank you Elliott & Thompson and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good!! I enjoyed reading it and getting engrossed in the back and forth plot. I did not think this author could top the last book I read by them but they sure did!

This is a story about trauma, memory, and survival, but also about the complicated love that can grow from darkness.

At the heart of it are Frida and Gabriel, two people who once escaped a cult led by the terrifyingly calm and controlling Émile. They’re not related by blood, but their bond is deeper than most families. That relationship co-dependent, protective, damaged was the most moving part of the book for me. Frida, now a woman, is still shaped by what she went through as a teenager. And Gabriel he’s a mystery even to her now. I felt the same unease she did, not knowing whether she could still trust him.

The setting of the Ara Resort, isolated and surrounded by desert, was both stunning and chilling. It felt like a place where time was suspended where the past could reach forward and grab you by the throat. The murder that takes place there adds tension, yes, but it’s the emotional tension between the characters that really carries the story. Every conversation is layered. Every silence feels meaningful.

I loved how Michallon reveals the truth slowly, in fragments, mirroring how memory works after trauma. Some scenes from the past, especially within the cult, were hard to read not because they were graphic, but because they were psychologically sharp and believable. Émile’s presence looms even when he isn’t on the page, which made everything feel that much more fragile.
If I’m honest, the pacing dipped just a bit in the middle, and I would have liked a bit more closure between Frida and Gabriel by the end—but I also understand why Michallon chose to leave certain things unsaid. Some wounds don’t heal in a straight line. Some relationships can’t be neatly wrapped up.

What this book gave me was a feeling I didn’t expect: that survival itself can be a story of love. Not romantic love, not easy love but the kind of love that’s built through shared fear, shared resilience, and a desperate longing for safety. It made me think about how we carry our pasts, and how sometimes the people who hurt us still live inside our minds in ways we don’t always notice.