The Holiday Home

By: Daniel Hurst

Narrated by: Zoe Mills, Richard Burnip

Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

The perfect holiday or the perfect nightmare...

I sit sipping champagne in the warm water, bubbles frothing around me as I admire the breathtaking 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 my family and I 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....

A twist-filled psychological thriller that will keep your heart pounding. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl, and The Housemaid, you’ll be gripped by The Holiday Home.

©2023 Daniel Hurst (P)2023 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Disappointing

This book just wasn’t good and ended up being nothing like what the summary described.
You’d think this would be a mystery taking place in a very remote location with all that that generally entails…
Instead this is a poorly executed story about two couples and their complex relationships.
There is almost nothing said about the Scottish Highlands, almost no descriptive language whatsoever, the “holiday house” has no part in this story.
It’s just a bad domestic situation that could’ve taken place anywhere.
Also, all of these characters are awful.
There is no one to root for or align with.
Ultimately, I really didn’t care what happened to any of them.
The story was just ridiculous.
I’m sorry I hate leaving purely negative reviews but I couldn’t find anything redeemable here.

This was just bad

One of the worst books in a long time. Nobody react the way these characters do. It's all just ridiculous and poorly thought out.

The Holiday Home

This is a good thriller, despite it being a bit predictable. I guessed the ending quite early.
This review is of the audiobook, however, which is well narrated by Zoe Mills and Richard Burnip. They team up to bring out the best in this book. My rating is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Minus the narration, I would give the book three stars.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Bookouture Audio. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

My 2nd Daniel Hurst book- def not my last!

I love the way Daniel Hurst writes his books in the present tense, while also portraying that the narrator already knows what's going to happen. Hindsight 20/20. This book was full of lies and deceit from multiple characters. Lots of twists and turns all the way to the epilogue. I really enjoyed the narration, there was alot of emotion captured through their voices. Great book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Daniel Hurst and Bookouture Audio for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Daniel Hurst does it again!

A cracking good story, plenty to get your head into and a few surprises along the way.
Really well narrated by both Zoe Mills and Richard Burnip. I'm already looking forward to another good book from this author.

Brilliant, twisty tale!

A holiday from hell in a remote Scottish cabin, surrounded by beautiful scenery and terrible people. Can you really ever trust your life long friends and your own family?

I really enjoyed this, it had a fast pace, yet it was a slow burn. I found an interesting take where we carry through the novel with a morsel of the truth, several hints of what is to come and a take from each of the characters of what to expect. All reaching a really satisfying end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.

Very boring

I can describe this book as a '4 sentence idea, drawn out to a 6.49hrs'. And this is clear if you managed to listen to the whole book. Very boring and you know exactly what will happen. I will definitely be returning this book. (I notice all 3 positive reviews before mine had received the book for free).

A great listen

The Holiday Home is a great suspense thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and he is fast becoming one of my favourite thriller authors. As soon as I had finished reading the prologue I just knew this was my type of read. The author has a great way of writing about their characters and it didn’t take me long to get to know them all. The suspense throughout the book was great and just had me wanting to listen on. From start to finish I loved it.

Terrible!

I’m really sorry to say but this was the worst book I’ve ever read! So predictable, poorly written with extremely random parts added to it for no reason. I don’t like to leave a bad review but this absolutely warrants one ☹️

Poorly written

Just so badly written. Was it AI? Plot is predictable from the start. Hard text for the ‘performers’ to bring to life.

sooo boring!!!

Such a boring predictable story, the voices of all the characters are really dull and dreary and annoying. none of the characters are likeable,

I liked it

Once it got going it was a really good read. I will definitely look forward to hearing from this writer again.

Dull, one dimensional

Fails to create any sense of excitement or peril. One dimensional plot and characters with no attempt at any sub plots. The final “twist” at the end is entirely pointless- it has no retrospective impact on the preceding plot so why bother including it. Feel like these are all things a good book editor should have pointed out and so the author is not entirely to blame here - an example of how writing a book isn’t easy.

Most irritating characters ever

Who refers to the 15 year old son of a family friend as "the teenager"? I wanted to scream every time that phrase was used. The narrators managed to make the characters come across as self-absorbed, self-pitying moaners. There wasn't a likeable one among them, even the children had no personality or oomph. I listened to the end, goodness knows why. I'd already guessed the twist at the end. I wouldn't bother with anything else from this author. Maybe I'd have enjoyed reading it more than listening.