The Holiday Cottage

By: Maria Frankland

Narrated by: Jenny Myers

It was supposed to be a holiday to fix the cracks in our fractured family. I knew the seven days would be endless, but I never imagined that one of us would only survive for six of them…

As I carry my case into the charming and rustic cottage and smile at my sister-in-law, Kelli, I allow myself a moment of hope. Perhaps this holiday will force our family to address our long-held grudges and leave with the promise of a happier future.

But my vision of harmonious meals and exciting outdoor pursuits is dashed on the first night as all my effort goes into dodging the catty remarks of my other sister-in-law, Martha and avoiding the relentless misogyny of my father-in-law, Karl.

Longstanding rivalries reignite, leaving my mother-in-law, Gill, helpless in her quest for a perfect holiday. Only my daughter seems oblivious to the toxicity swirling around her. I go to bed at the same time as her on the first night, wondering how I’ll make it to the end of the week.

As the tension escalates with every passing day, the secrets among us transform the cottage into a pressure cooker, pushing us all to the brink. The picturesque location offers no refuge, and the looming eruption becomes inevitable. Soon, someone among us will take drastic measures to silence a voice that has become unbearable.

As the ultimate showdown between us explodes, it becomes clear there is only one way the holiday is going to end.

One of us will be a victim.

Another will be a killer…

Perfect for fans of Daniel Hurst, Sue Watson and Freida McFadden, this is a compelling and captivating psychological thriller full of twists and turns.

©2024 Maria Frankland (P)2024 Maria Frankland

narration

This is not a deep book, no likeable characters. No character development. The story was interesting, but it was basically an entire book of arguments. Narration was absolutely horrible.

Excellent story!

With a family like that I was surprised there weren’t more murders! The jealousies, secrets and grudges tore the family apart that a week long holiday at a rented cottage may not be able to mend. The narration by Jenny Myers was outstanding and brought the characters (especially the horrible ones) to life. I couldn’t stop listening to the book and stayed up until it was finished. Then I couldn’t fall asleep! Looking forward to reading another of Maria Frankland’s books.

Oh the tea!

This book was a slow burn wild ride. The characters sucked me in and left me wanting to know what happened before I got to the end! The narrator was great with her voices and characters too so it was easy to follow and a great listen!

Nothing better than a bloody dysfunctional family holiday week!

Loved all of the characters and the plot! The ending was just what I hoped it would be like, but didn’t want these family characters stories to end because Maria Franklin has a way of writing unforgettable characters! Screenplays could be made from her books!

Great Read/Listen

This was a nice story until it wasn't! It definitely kept me entertained and guessing what would happen next. It had a nice turn towards the end that I didn't see coming!