Thank you Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Long Weekend in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: March 29, 2022
Summary:
Three couples. Two bodies. One secret.
Dark Fell Barn is a “perfectly isolated” retreat, or so says its website when Jayne books a reservation for her friends. A quiet place, far removed from the rest of the world, is exactly what they need.
The women arrive for a girls’ night ahead of their husbands. There’s ex-Army Jayne, hardened and serious, but also damaged. Ruth, the driven doctor and new mother who is battling demons of her own. Young Emily, just wed and insecure, the newest addition of this tight-knit band. Missing this year is Edie, who was the glue holding them together until her husband died suddenly.
But what they hoped would be a relaxing break soon turns to horror. Upon arrival at Dark Fell Barn, the women find a devastating note claiming one of their husbands will be murdered. There are no phones, no cell service to check on their men. Friendships fracture as the situation spins wildly out of control. Betrayal can come in many forms.
This group has kept each other’s secrets for far too long.
My thoughts:
Ever since reading Gilly Macmillan’s debut novel, What She Knew, back in 2015, I knew this was an author I was going to follow and read everything she wrote…and so far she has not let me down! I love that she has her books with familiar characters – DI Jim Clemo – and then she has her stand-alones, and each and every one stands out as having just enough twists and turns to keep you engaged without going over the top and they are also brilliantly crafted, and this latest one is no exception!
This book captivated me from the start. I remember I read it while I was away (yes…this review is a bit late, but life totally got in the way of me getting it written!) and I was totally consumed by it. Once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down and if I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it…to me, that’s always the sign of a good book! I loved how mysterious the book was – I cannot even imagine going off on a trip with people I don’t know that well…but perhaps that’s just me. But then, as if that isn’t strange enough, things take a weird turn when a package arrives with a very ominous message.
This book was so mysterious and that is what kept me flipping the pages. I loved that it wasn’t just that I never knew what to expect, but that as the story progresses, I started to not know who I could trust, especially as we started getting their backstories. Who was behind all this?
As I already mentioned, I devoured this one and while the lack of chapters didn’t bother me, I can see where it might not be to everyone’s liking. It’s broken down by the long days of the weekend, which goes with the overall theme of the book. Again, it worked for me but might be a deterrent for some. But if you can get past that, I definitely think you will enjoy this crazy ride…for it sure was one long weekend for these characters…one I’m sure not going to be forgetting anytime soon!
