The Long Weekend is the latest novel from Gilly Macmillan, published in 2022.
Gilly Macmillan is a Sunday Times bestselling author known for writing suspenseful thrillers.
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Plot
In an isolated retreat, miles away from anyone else, three women arrive for the perfect weekend getaway. Their husbands are supposed to be joining them the following morning but when they arrive at Dark Fell Barn, they find a note waiting for them:
By the time you read this, I’ll have killed one of your husbands.
Their phones are out of range and there’s no internet. They can’t contact their husbands and, with a storm coming in, they also can’t escape. Their friendships are tested to breaking point as each wife tries to find out what’s going on, who is responsible and which husband has been targeted.
The Long Weekend Book Review
There were parts of the story I really enjoyed. The tension was palpable and I could feel the panic and that claustrophobic feeling of being stuck somewhere without an escape. The descriptions of the location were really vivid and really added to the atmosphere.
However, I feel like I liked the idea behind the book more than the actual execution of it. It was fast-paced – almost too fast. There were a few “wait…what?” moments where I had to reread what I had just read.
The main annoyance for me was the complete lack of chapters. The perspective and timeframes shift from section to section without anything to differentiate them. This made it quite confusing as I tried to figure out from whose viewpoint I was reading from. It constantly switches between the characters who are, in all honesty, hard to like.
I did find it slightly implausible and I predicted the main twist. I found it hard to relate to the characters and I found myself losing interest as the story progressed.
It just missed the mark for me and didn’t live up to expectations.
Has Gilly Macmillan written any other novels?
Gilly Macmillan has also written:
- The Perfect Girl
- I Know You Know
- The Nanny
- To Tell You the Truth
- The Manor House
What should I read after The Long Weekend?
If you enjoyed The Long Weekend, I’d recommend reading more Gilly Macmillan books. You may also like The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse and Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena as they both have a similar “trapped with a killer” feel to them.
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.
Trudy R
Friday 15th of April 2022
I couldn't agree more. I would give it 2.5 stars. Disappointing and not an enjoyable read in the end.