It’s the third book chosen by my spin the wheel called Spinderella. This time it was “The Holiday” by T. M. Logan.

After reading “The Mother” by Logan a while back and absolutely loving it, I bought a couple other books. But, where I gave The Mother 5 stars, this one will only get half of that.

It’s a 480-page paperback with the text “Seven days, three families, one killer” which gave me very high hopes, but halfway through, not a single killing had taken place and not much had happened. Such a shame, it had potential.

Kate, Jennifer, Rowan and Izzy were BBF’s at Uni, when they graduated, they took a holiday, just the four of them and not a single thing could come in between. But with Rowan being pregnant with Odette in the summer 5 years prior they didn’t go and they hadn’t picked up the tradition since. But, with the four of them turning forty they decide to go on holiday with their families. Off to a villa with vineyard in France.

When Kate discovers some weird messages on her husband Sean’s phone when they arrive, the stay has turned sour. It looks like he’s having an affair, with one of her BFFs. But who?

With her focus not on the vacation but on finding out who is breaking up her marriage. Jennifer being a helicopter mom and smothering her 16- and 15-year-old sons who, during reading turn out to be psychos. Rowan on the helm of a multimillion-dollar deal… And Izzy trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

The last 100 pages were fast paced and I have to say that I did not see the end coming. It’s the reason I did finish because I was contemplating not finishing this one.

Families:
Rowan, Russ and 5-year-old daughter Odette.
Rowan has her own company that is set to be sold for millions of dollars so she’s on her phone a lot whilst Russ seems to be drinking away his worries about his wife and his suspicion of her having an affair. Odette is a very demanding girl that has been given no boundaries.
Kate, Sean, 16-year-old Lucy and 9-year-old Daniel.
Kate is a detective with a brain that’s always in work mode and after arriving on vacay and seeing the messages on Sean’s phone she’s already at the conclusion that he’s cheating. Sean seems very closed of but also the only one that shows responsibility toward the kids. Lucy seems to be struggling with something but doesn’t want to talk about it whilst Daniel is trying to keep everybody happy.
Jennifer, Alistair, 15-year-old Jake and 15-year-old Ethan.
If anyone ever was in need of a definition of Helicopter Mom, Jennifer is taking the crown with that one, not giving her son’s the room to breathe, without her wanting to know what they are doing, what they are planning, what they are up to and / or how they are feeling. Always wanting to be included. Alistair is a therapist but his approach on the boys is way to laid back, ‘let them be, they are almost adults, let them figure it out’. No harm no foul kind of thing. While secretly following his boys with a fake account to see what they are up to. Jake and Ethan have me thinking they are absolute psychopaths, giving a nine-year-old dangerous dares, Jake even stands on the edge of a gorge, without a care for his live… Taking the car without having a license and so on.
Izzy
The only one without a man in her live or kids. She’s traveled a lot and can be a bit stand-offish. But will always be there if you want to talk. She has told she’s seeing someone, but it’s complicated because he’s married…

So; only ⭐⭐,5 stars from me.