The second psychological thriller from Simon Mccleave. This one is about a group of women who go to Provence to celebrate a 50th birthday. We follow the ladies as they celebrate and enjoy the surroundings, when someone suddenly dies. The characters are enjoyable and annoying in equal measure. Just when you think that you know what's happening something changes. The final outcome was unexpected. I found this book enjoyable to read. Another corker from Mr Mccleave. With thanks to the author, Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to sample this book.

This was a chilling read, five friends go on holiday together to France, they are looking forward to it, but all is not as it seems. One has a stalker back in the UK, when one ends up dead up a mountain and a phone call later, they know the stalker is here in France. It’s an intense read, that’s written in chapters written by each of the friends, I liked that it gave perspective from each of the characters. Liked the plot and the twist at the end. Very well written, a fantastic 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

The pitfalls of Social Media and the illusion of a perfect life and a perfect lie.

How easily we get sucked down a path we didn't think we would ever be on. Five lifelong friends. Celebrating birthdays and milestones together. Secrets. Secrets can tear you up and create walls where none should be.

The mystery was okay. The murder is in the beginning with some suspense, but you can easily get the gist of the story and where it's heading.

An enjoyable read with plenty of details and atmosphere but some of the twists in the tale were easy to guess, making it a little less exciting to read the reveals.

5 close friends gather in Provence for the perfect birthday celebration, but all is not well in paradise and resentments and secrets are spoiling the perfection. Throw in a stalker and wildfires and you have a great suspenseful novel.

This book was so good and I thought I had things figured out with one character and the author took it a way I never would’ve expected. Great plot twist and lots of action. It was entertaining the entire read and I finished it within a few hours. Definitely recommend!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

This had all the makings of a compelling thriller: a group of lifelong friends, a stunning Provencal setting and a murder that shatters their seemingly perfect reunion. The atmosphere was rich and immersive and the simmering tension among the characters hinted at deeper secrets waiting to explode. But the story never quite lived up to its potential. The pacing was uneven and the twists were predictable and underwhelming. The final reveal aimed to shock, but it didn’t work out. Not a bad book by any means… I was left wishing for more depth, more suspense, and a stronger emotional punch.

𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 : ★★.75

Thank you to Simon McCleave, Storm Publishing & NetGalley for my e-ARC copy.

𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 : 27 june 2025

Another great read from Simon McCleave five friends go on holiday for a 50th birthday. Abi, Darcie, Katie, Ruby, and Steph they have all been friends for years unfortuntely not all of them will make it alive.
Looking forward to next thank you for advanced copy.

Five longtime friends travel to Provence to celebrate Steph’s 50th Birthday. They rent a luxury farmhouse where Steph’s has planned the getaway to party hard and then hike up Mont Ventoux. The girls have known each other for most thirty years since their Oxford days and now in their 50’s. Darcie is a local influencer and spends her day posting on Instagram her daily life. She has a stalker where an incident that the stalker had a knife at her throat. So, the time away with her friends are much needed but neither of the girls’ relationships are not plain sailing and tensions arise between them.
The next day the girls hike up Mont Ventoux, when local wildfires start some of the girls get separated and the consequences. One ends up dead.
I have read some of the authors Anglesey series which I really enjoyed. So, I was looking for forwarding this. This is a completely different style of writing from the author that I am used to. I did enjoy the premise of this thriller, and I kept reading this in a day. But unfortunately, I didn’t think that the characters were very likeable. Especially Darcie who I thought was quite obnoxious. 4 stars from me.

This one was a rollercoaster and was a very enjoyable read. It was a little more predictable than I like but nonetheless I still enjoyed the read. I do love destination type reads. It was well written and the characters were good.

The book was enjoyable and I liked the ending. I do have to say though that it seemed more so that the main characters were in their teens-early twenties rather than in their 50’s. All in all it was a good book, but I think it could have been a little bit of a better “thriller” story line and not focusing so much on the main characters.

A quick whodunnit read that would be perfect for a vacation read. The pacing was quick but manageable and I was able to get through it in just a few hours. Has some twists and turns - some of which I guessed early one and one that I didn't see coming at all. It's my first read by this author and I'll likely check out more of their works. Would rate a 3.5/5 stars. Enjoyable but likely won't pick it back up.

I should have known better. Five women, in their 50s, have a splash out holiday in Provence for the 50th birthday of the youngest. None is a likeable characters, all very predictable and I just can't believe that they stayed friends since college., let alone how they were Oxford undergraduates in the first place. Add in a couple of hunky 30 somethings, a forest fire out of control (topical at least) and the murder is predictable. Sorry, I made a mistake. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Five days in Provence by Simon McCleave is more of a cozy mystery, a great read for Vacation. A group of girlfriends take a 50th birthday trip to Provence for their friend. One of their friends, Darcie, is a social media influencer whose marriage is coming apart due to her husband’s inappropriate behavior. Darcie also has a stalker. As the story unfolds, one of the friends is dead. But who? Why? And was it an accident or murder?

I enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading it. Thank you to Storm Publishing for an advanced copy through NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

First, thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!

I do love destination thriller, and I do love locked-room settings, and this book was a mix of both in my opinion. It is a shame, though, that it always seem to be birthday parties or weddings were people have to die. Makes me sort of fell better about being an introvert who usually loves to stay at home...

Anyway, I do think this was my first book by the auhtor, and I really had fun reading it. It was just the right pace, with a lot of twist on the way. Very much recommended for a day on the beach or your next holiday trip! 4.5 stars from me for this book!

Five fifty somethings head off to Provence for birthday celebrations. There’s the Brat, the Mother, the One Who Has Just Discovered Her Sexuality, the Child, and the Ever So Slightly Jealous Older Sister, all bases covered really. Five women who are all needy in their own way and in real life would never stick at being close friends for thirty years.

This plot has been done to death, just the characters and the destination change. It all followed the usual trope, with the reader knowing within a few chapters who would be the victim, who would be the culprit and who wouldn’t make it to the end of the book. No surprises, no twist, and some things that made no sense whatsoever.

A perfect holiday read if you want to zone out and give your brain a holiday too.

From the reviews it appears that I am in the minority, so maybe it just wasn’t my thing.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

I truly love all of Simon McCleaves’s books. This one is a WOW for sure. I really recommend this book to everyone that loves a great mystery.

"Five Days in Provence" by Simon McCleave was a page turning story that kept you guessing until the end.
Steph wanted to spend her 50th birthday with her closest friends. She planned a whole trip for them to celebrate. When they get to the house some tension started between some of the friends. The friends were excited to go on a hike but things started to take a turn for the worse the higher they go. When a tragedy happens it shakes them all but it only gets worse from there.
Highly recommend this thriller.

pretty fun, well written thriller with some cool twists scattered throughout and with some really fun vibes. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.