Julian and his wife Olivia are on holiday to celebrate their birthdays when they bump into Gabriel. It soon becomes clear that Julian and Gabriel have met previously and Julian is definitely not keen on revisiting the past…
The Perfect Holiday is a psychological thriller set in Spain and the UK.
The book is written in the past and present, from Julian’s perspective as well as his memoir. He was a carer for his first wife who died after a break in. The published memoir contrasts with his other viewpoint which shows the things he didn’t want to print.
I felt deep sorrow for Julian in the past as he struggled to care for his first wife and put his whole life on hold. He meets Gabriel and I didn’t trust him at all but Julian is desperate for some human contact. This then leads to a more sinister series of events which leaves Julian fearful when they meet up again in the present day.
There are several thought provoking elements to the book as well as moral dilemmas. I have mixed feelings towards Julian as he makes bad choices from a place of great sadness and desperation. Gabriel is someone that I loved to hate!
The Perfect Holiday is entertaining yet often emotional psychological thriller.
